Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa

A wildlife photograph in color shows a gorgeous African elephant calf that follows its mom. The calf has its tail lifted. On both animals is a warm, soft color tone of the sunset. Elephant calves are cute and funny to watch.

copyright Anette Mossbacher, 16 July, 2023

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This photograph was captured with a Canon EOS-1D Mark IV and a lens. The following settings were used:

  • Aperture: ƒ/7.1
  • Exposure time: 1/1250s
  • ISO: 800
  • Focal Length: 600mm

The original photograph has the following dimensions: 4565 by 3045 pixels (WxH).

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African elephant calf follows its mom through the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Elephant calves are cute and funny to watch. The calves are the most advanced species with newborn capabilities. Female elephants are pregnant for about 22/23 months.

Calves will stay very close to their mom during the first few months, since they cannot see very well, but can recognize their mom’s scent, sound, and touch. Like every baby, in this case, the calf, they are starving! An African elephant calf can drink up to 11/12 liters of milk from its mother per day. That can last until they are at the age of 10 years.

Elephant Babies

Elephants are very social. The whole herd will look after a newborn calf and teach it everything it needs to know over the years until adulthood. In the first year, elephant calves cannot control their trunks so well.

Elephant tusks replace the milk teeth of a calf when they are around 6-12 months old. Tusks can grow about 17cm / 6.7″ per year, but this also depends on their diet and the minerals they can get in the environment they live in.

This photograph was taken in the Okavango Delta when a large herd of elephants passed us to cross a river. The little African elephant calf follows its mom through the river without any problems. Hanging on mom’s tail is typical behavior for a calf in their first few months. They always try to keep up with mom and the herd before they disappear into the bush.

African elephant, Loxodonta africana, listed in the IUCN list as vulnerable.

Please visit our Photography Portfolio for more photographs or the Tusker theme for more elephant photographs. In our nature photography portfolios, you can purchase fine art photo prints as wall art. Our nature photographs you can also buy a stock image license.

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1 comment for African Elephant Calf Follows Mom

  1. Hanneke

    My favourite perhaps, absolutely lovely 😍

    • Anette Mossbacher

      Yes, sweet little elephant calves are always cute. 😀
      Thank you very much, Hanneke. 😀
      Cheers Anette

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