Field guide Tarryn Rae of Mankwe Gametrackers sent this delightful video to Latest Sightings. She witnessed the tender moment while on a game drive in South Africa’s Pilanesberg National Park.
Among giants
One never quite knows what to expect on a safari. And that is exactly what makes it such a popular activity.
So, when Tarryn encountered a herd of elephants on an early morning game drive, she pulled over to see what would unfold.
Tarryn said that to start with, the herd was some distance away, but gradually made their way closer.
She noticed a tiny calf in amongst the herd of giants, and to her delight, the calf approached the rear of her vehicle.
Highly protective
Elephants are highly social creatures that live in herds of interrelated females. Elephants are famously protective of their young, so watching them allow the calf to approach the vehicle was a rare and special privilege.
As Tarryn said to her guests, this might have been the first time the calf had seen a safari vehicle. And, like any toddler, it was eager to explore this new ‘discovery’.
If you look closely, you can see that the calf’s body is covered in short, coarse black hair. This, combined with the calf’s tiny size, suggests that it is just a few days old.
head
You’ll also note that the calf has yet to master control of its most fascinating appendage: its trunk. Comprises of over 50,000 muscles; it will take the calf several years to perfect its use.
For now, though, it uses it to sniff the vehicle. Meanwhile, out of the frame, its massive mother kept a close eye on the proceedings. Accordingly, we hear Tarryn asking her guests to stay quiet and still, lest they frighten either the calf or its mum.
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Comforting touch
Subsequently, the curious calf started moving along the side of the vehicle. It was at this point that the gentle mother decided it was time to move on.
Reaching out her trunk, she softly wrapped it over her baby’s body and coaxed it away from the vehicle. Besides being a powerful tool, elephants also use their trunks to communicate with one another, much like we would touch another person in a gesture of reassurance.
Anyone who has spent time with elephants will certainly attest that they are powerful creatures with a typically calm temperament. Seeing them at close quarters is always a privilege.
That said, they are still wild and unpredictable creatures that should be treated with cautious respect at all times.
Nomadic life
Tarryn tells us that the calf seemed reluctant to leave the vehicle, and it took some coaxing from the mother before they eventually moved off.
Adult elephants must consume vast quantities daily to fuel their massive bodies. As such, they are almost always on the move, looking for food and water to keep them on the go.
In their care, the calf will learn all it needs to know from its mother, aunts and other relatives. With a lifespan of up to seventy years, it has a long road ahead.