Tag: elephant

An Elephant’s skin can be up to 3.8cm (1.5”) in certain places. The folds and wrinkles may contain far more water than flat skin. That helps them to stay cool. The have no sweat glands, so they often cover their skin with wet mud which also helps them cooling down in hot weather.

Their skin is very sensitive and they are one of only a few mammals who will not tolerated Oxpeckers (birds, which mainly hunt for ticks) sitting on them. But especially behind their ears the skin is very thin with many veins getting a lot of blood close to the surface. Flapping their ears back and forth helps them cooling down their blood.

Technical data: Canon R6 with EF lens f2.8/300mm | ISO 10000 | 1/750sec | f4 | ev+0 | 300mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 90% of original image

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

Whenever I am thinking of the African wilderness a few images pop into my mind. One of them is a large animal walking along a ridge under one of the iconic African trees.

A few days ago that scene unfolded in front of me. One of our young Elephant bulls walked on top of a dam wall in front of a large Fever Tree. So very African!

Technical data: Canon R6 with EF lens f2.8/70-200mm | ISO 500 | 1/2000sec | f2.8 | ev+0 | 125mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 80% of original image

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

Yesterday, the matriarch of one of Thanda Safari’s herds of Elephants got a new radio collar. It was an exciting experience for everyone participating in the operation.

The new collar is not only there to track the movement of its carrier, but uses AI technology to provide our wildlife department with a lot of valuable information deduced from the data collected. The same collars in a ‘foot version’ are used on many of our Rhinos to support Thanda’s conservation efforts.

I love this aerial shot of the large female. Shortly after the procedure was finished she woke up and re-joined her herd.

Technical data: DJI Mavic Mini 3 Pro Drone | ISO 100 | 1/500sec | f1.7 | ev+0 | 24mm | WB AUTO | Crop to 30% of original image

Please note: For anti-poaching-, privacy,- and wildlife protection- reasons Thanda Safari does not allow any third-party-drones to be flown over the reserve.

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This little Elephant calf does not have full control over its trunk yet. The trunk of an adult Elephant is a prehensile tool of incredible dexterity and strength. But the little ones just have a floppy nose. While they are getting all their fluids from the mother’s milk they do not yet need the trunk’s syringe function for drinking water. As they get a bit older they learn how to use their long nose as a most versatile tool. I took this picture last night, as a large Thanda Safari herd drank and bathed at a waterhole. Mum and all aunties and older sisters were very protective of this little one.

Technical data: Canon R6 with EF lens f2.8/70-200mm | ISO 3200 | 1/2000sec | f2.8 | ev+0 | 200mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 25% of original image

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

It is ‘raining 🌧️ cats 🐈‍⬛ and dogs 🐕’ right now but the Elephants 🐘 are enjoying themselves at the Thanda House dam! Filmed from my office door 😊

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Three videos I took today at Thanda Safari! Enjoy them and have a good week!

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It does not happen often, that I post twice a day. But I really like this short video of this morning’s sighting of the Mduna Elephant herd at Thanda Safari. So I thought I share it right away 😊

Music: March of the Elephants by Root.

Technical data: Canon R6 with EF lens 500mm L 4K Video 50Fps

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Excited about 2023 getting close ?!😊

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Sometimes no words are needed 😊 my picture of the day!

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