Intimacy in Amboseli

Elephant mothers are very nurturing and protective of their young calves. Shown here is a young calf touching his mother for reassurance as the herd walks back to the forest after spending the day foraging in a nearby swamp. The young one still has some green algae on his skin from his day with mom. The calf uses his small trunk, much like a tiny hand, to find comfort in touching his mother’s tusk. Amboseli NP is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is one of the few places in the world where elephant populations are slowly increasing. Not much is known about the impact of an elephant’s life if her tusks cross but it is assumed that this is a genetic condition. I used a series of layers to underexpose the pair to enhance the beauty and emotion of this image of intimate bonding.