elephant – Page 15 – Christian Sperka Photography

2014-07-05

One of those days!

It was a windy winter’s day with a lot of the animals hiding in the thick bush. We drove and tracked for over two hours before we found the breeding herd of Elephants. They also had decided to feed in a very dense area and we only caught occasional glimpses. When we were about to leave the sighting, to find a nice location for our drinks stop at sunset, a dozen Elephants crossed the road right in front of us. What a sighting!

It was one of those days, which needed patience for a long time and which ended with a big reward for not giving up!

The picture above shows one of the youngsters waving his trunk before it disappeared after his mum into the bush. The picture below shows the group walking past the vehicle.

2014-06-29

Twelve days old!

Imagine you are a twelve-days old Baby Elephant at the new Kaeng Krachan Elephant Park at the Zurich Zoo …

“I have on idea what the fuss is all about? …

… I live in this cool place at the Zurich Zoo …

… and they all treat me like I am royalty or something …

… check out all these people, and just for me! …

… that trunk thing is already working 🙂 – took me a few days to figure it out …

… my mum and my aunties are looking after me very well …

… and that is my daddy in front of our house, big and beautiful, what do you think? …

… and just to let you know, it is our job at the zoo to teach all you guys about my cousins in the wild, even via smart phones 🙂 …

… so, see you at the zoo!”

A few moments in the life of a small zoo Elephant.

Story and pictures by Christian Sperka

2014-06-01

A new home for Zuerich’s Elephants

Yesterday I briefly visited the Zuerich Zoo in Switzerland. And I got my first glimpse of the new Elephant enclosure, a fascinating building within impressive grounds.

It will open in six days. After my return from the USA I will have a good look at this new exhibit, housing Zuerich’s Asian Elephants.

2014-03-31

My Space or Your Space?

We were watching a breeding herd of Elephants in a forest area when the matriarch decided to change direction and cross the road just where we were. Normally, if one drives to close to Elephants they give clear signs of displeasure and it is wise to adhere to these warnings by giving them their required space. In this case they decided to use our space (around the car) and they were not disturbed at all by our presence. Their usual need for distance was quite diminished. Everyone on our vehicle had a great time watching them pass right in front of us!

The little one on the left side of the picture took a good sniff from this strange animal in front 🙂 – I have left the antenna and the top of the dashboard in the picture to show the distance.

The picture below shows the youngster pointing his nose (trunk) and tongue at us 🙂

2014-03-16

What an office view!

I have had many different offices in my life – some with very nice views out of the window, some facing a parking lot and some with no view at all. But nothing compares with my office view at Thanda!

I was sitting at my desk working on images and email when I heard a faint splashing sound from the nearby waterhole, which, due to the recent heavy rains, is full for the first time since I have arrived on Thanda. I had a look out of the window and saw Elephants having a swim. I grabbed a camera with a long lens, walked down to the Thanda house fence and took some pictures of Elephants enjoying themselves in the water.

As the light faded, all of us at Thanda house stood there and watched until the last of the Elephants had left the waterhole. What an evening!

2014-03-07

On the move!

It is amazing how far Elephants move even if they take a leisurely pace. So following them if they move fast is quite difficult.

The Thanda guests on my vehicle enjoyed the fast drive to catch up with these gentle giants when they were on the way to the next waterhole. And we just caught them as they crossed the road in front of us.

A special type of road block 🙂

2014-02-20

Difference in size!

This picture shows an interesting comparison between an adult male and an adult female African Elephant. Size is the most significant visual sign of Elephants’ sexual dimorphism.

On the left is one of Thanda oldest and largest bulls (he his almost 50 years old) and on the right is Thanda’s oldest and largest female (she is around 40 years old). The female, a tusk-less African Elephant, is the matriarch of Thanda’s herd of Elephant.

2014-01-29

Walk to water …

Imagine you are a two month old Thanda Baby Elephant …

“A hot day today. Mum is walking very fast. Grandma wants to find water. So we walk and walk and walk. I wish I had longer legs.

That grass is too high – Being the smallest is no fun 😦

I can’t see a thing – mum wait!!!

OK – That’s better!

Oh, I got an itch! Mummy, don’t move, I am gonna use your legs as a rubbing post.

Yes, yees, yeees – much better!

I am thirsty – let’s go!

Mummy come on – I see the water, I see the water!

Give me a bit of space, pleeeease!

That’s better!

Nice family – what do you think? :-)”

This is a “record” of a walk to water, enjoyed by many Thanda guests on sunny morning.

2014-01-25

CF100 :-)

I would rate this image of Thanda’s youngest Elephant with “Cuteness Factor 100”.

To the delight of all Thanda guests he and his family came for a drink stop at the small pond in front of the Thanda Safari Lodge.

What a morning!

2014-01-03

Elbows and Knees!

This image, taken on one of my recent game drives with Thanda guests, shows clearly that Elephants have elbows on their front legs and knees on their back legs – just like us 🙂

On the same drive one of our large Elephant bulls appeared just next to us out of the bush. An exciting moment for the guests, not used to the sudden appearance of 6 ton animals. The bull calmly waited for us to get of the road so he could continue to strive in his planned direction – following the herd.

And one of the younger bulls demonstrated his ability to strip the nutrient-rich layer from underneath a tree’s bark, using his tusks and his trunk.

What a great Elephant sighting!

Pictures by Christian Sperka – Specialist Photography Guide and Resident Wildlife Photographer – Thanda Private Game Reserve.