The sweet African elephant calf is drinking water in a river. It has its half trunk in the water. On the body of the elephant calf, you see a water line of how deep it was in the water before. The darker bottom is due to the wetness from the river, while the upper body is still dry and light grey.
It stands in the middle ground of the photograph, predominantly to the left-hand side. Whereas, in front of that cute calf are two birds, a Darter and a Lesser Jacana. The water is with brilliantly green, short grass stemming out of it.
Elephant calves weigh about 113 kilogram / 250 pounds at birth. They have poor eyesight when they are born. However, they recognize their mother through scent, touch, and sound. The elephant calf drinking water in the photograph is older than a newborn calf. They will stick by their mother’s side for many months and drink her milk for about two years.
They can drink up to 11 liters / 3 gallons of milk every day! At first, calves do not know what to do with their trunks. It swings all over, stepping on them and overall being rather clumsy with it. Additionally, they also suck on their trunks, similar to how a human baby will suck on its thumb.
African elephants, Loxodonta africana, are listed in the category vulnerable on the IUCN list.
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Stephen –
This cute elephant baby has a shorter trunk? How can this be?
Anette Mossbacher –
Yes, it has a shorter trunk. So far, I haven’t seen this elephant baby anymore.