Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa

Two African elephants enjoy bathing in a river. One animal is reaching up high with its trunk, while the other elephant is up to its eyes in the water. Water is splashing around the elephant’s head.

copyright Anette Mossbacher, 16 July, 2023

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This photograph was captured with a X-T2 and a lens. The following settings were used:

  • Aperture: ƒ/6.8
  • Exposure time: 1/600s
  • ISO: 3200
  • Focal Length: 275.2mm

The original photograph has the following dimensions: 4345 by 2896 pixels (WxH).

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Two African elephants bathing are wonderful to splash about in the refreshing water. You can see both magnificent animals a fun time splashing in the river. The right elephant has its head with its trunk up while water drifts off. Both African elephants are deep in the water, and their bodies are covered with water. Beautiful lush greens are at the edges of the river.

If an elephant’s usual water supply diminishes, they will wander great distances to find a stable supply to replace it. The members of an elephant family group take care of one another. If one of them is sick or injured, others will stay with it, care for it, and defend it.

The calves get especially close attention. The adult animals help them climb steep banks and will protect them from any threats or predators.

An African elephant’s trunk has about 100,000 muscles. It is a modified nose for them. The trunk has various functions and uses. It contains tiny hairs that make it incredibly sensitive to touch. They are able to pick the smallest berries off of trees as well as pick up extremely heavy tree trunks.

African elephants, Loxodonta africana, are listed in the category vulnerable of the IUCN list.

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1 comment for Two African Elephants Bathing

  1. Sandy

    It must have brought you so much joy to get to observe this. I love elephants so much. It’s a smashing photo.

    • Anette Mossbacher

      Observing elephants in the water indeed fun to see. The animals do enjoy the water! Thank you, Sandy.

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