Baby elephant protected by adults Caption: Baby elephant (Loxodonta africana) under close protection by a pair of adults, Mashatu Game Reserve, Botsana.

Camera: Canon EOS 50D; Lens: Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM; Focal length: 400mm; Shutter speed: 1/2000; aperture: f/5.6; ISO: 400

While out on a morning game drive during a visit to Mashatu Game Reserve in Botswana, we had the privilege of watching a large herd of elephants — probably around 150 in all — moving slowly past in groups of varying sizes (below).

Elephant herd, Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana

Within the groups there were many youngsters, varying in age from vulnerable infants to precocious sub-adults.

It was the “close protection” afforded the babies by the surrounding adults that was particularly fascinating to watch. Very seldom was a young elephant isolated for long enough to grab a photo; the majority of the time the youngsters were obscured by a protective forest of adults’ legs and trunks.



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+Scotch Macaskill