ENTRY DESCRIPTION
Elephants are very social mammals with strong bonds that remain their entire life between the females and their young. This very matriarchal society is typically led by the oldest female, helped by her sisters. Together they raise and protect the young and the calves. Calves are at the centre of the family from the moment they are born, as the adults and other young gather around them and touch and caress them with their trunks. This unity is reflected in this photograph, which required a fair amount of patience waiting to see the “pack” of adults open to allow the observing of several calves, well protected in the centre and under the mothers’ bodies.

Location: Kenya, Masai Mara National Reserve
Canon EOS-1D Mark III, Canon EF500mm f/4.0L IS USM, 1/125 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 200, no filter

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