[WPRESTO]

Elephants in three sizes/ages. The little guy is just big enough to see in the tall grass.

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[aslyfox]

Elephants in three sizes/ages. The little guy is just big enough to see in the tall grass.

I'm certainly no expert but it is interesting to see in your photo that it appears the middle elephant, which isn't the oldest judging by size, appears to have the largest tusks (just barely) or very close in size to the largest elephant.

very nice photo

did you use peanuts to have them pose like that or threaten them with a mouse???

[WPRESTO]

I'm certainly no expert but it is interesting to see in your photo that it appears the middle elephant, which isn't the oldest judging by size, appears to have the largest tusks (just barely) or very close in size to the largest elephant.

very nice photo

did you use peanuts to have them pose like that or threaten them with a mouse???

They were farther away than it looks, as the image is cropped. We were in a typical small open-roof safari-tour vehicle, just four of us and the driver.

[noelcmn]

Not much has been done on research of tusks, and it is believed that food, genetics and environment all play a factor in the size of tusks. Some big bulls have small tusks and others have very large, and the complexity multiplies. In Kruger Park Forums there is an informal thread for big tuskers which indicate that Kruger elephants has some of the largest tusks on record, though (from memory) the longest tusks belong to elephants from central Africa-Kenya. Addo Elephants seem to have shorter tusks, possibly due to the proximity of the ocean to the Park. And of course many have broken tusks-another area of research that should be undertaken. Here is one from Pilansberg that has a broken tusk,

[aslyfox]

here is an example of two elephants of similar size, I believe, but vastly different sized tusks. They were part of a larger group of mixed ages.

I was amazed how the tusks on the elephant on the left of the photo differ, one curved, the other straight

I had read about how elephants were right or left tusked, they would favor one side over the other, similar to our being right or left handed.

"What is a tusk?

Usually in mammals tusks are enlarged canine teeth, but in elephants they are actually elongated incisors and are essentially no different from other teeth. One third of the tusk is actually hidden from view, embedded deep in the elephant’s head. This part of the tusk is a pulp cavity made up of tissue, blood and nerves. The visible, ivory part of the tusk is made of dentine with an outer layer of enamel. . . .. Evidence suggests that elephants normally prefer one tusk over the other, similar to being left or right handed in humans. The preferred tusk is known as the master tusk." - Elephant Tusks - Elephant Facts and Information

we saw elephants feeding. of course, but never were lucky enough to see any of them use their tusks in their search for food or water.

[Racer X 69]

Elephants in three sizes/ages. The little guy is just big enough to see in the tall grass.

Nice photo Walt.

[WPRESTO]

Nice photo Walt.

Thank you Racer. Of course, that is one of maybe 12~15 images taken of that little guy and his mom. A couple of them are bound to be pretty good. Digital has really altered the chances of getting a good image. In the film era I'd probably have taken only two or three shots.

[noelcmn]

Moving away from Pachyderms to a different kind of thick skin

[Racer X 69]

Moving away from Pachyderms to a different kind of thick skin

That bird is living dangerously.

[aslyfox]

my knee doesn't work like that

another yellow-billed stork, in breeding colors, found at the Lake Manyara National Park Tanzania

"The yellow-billed stork (Mycteria ibis) is a large wading bird, which is most easily distinguished by its black tail and long neck (2) (3). It also has a characteristic yellow bill, with red skin at its base that extends onto its face. The bill is long, blunt and slightly downward-curved, perfectly adapted for catching its prey (2) (3).

This species has white feathers on its back, wings, breast and underside, which are suffused with pink. . . .

The colouration of the yellow-billed stork becomes more vivid throughout the breeding season. Its bill becomes a deeper yellow and the face a brighter red while the feathers are saturated with pink and the skin of the head is retracted, the area of visible red skin hidden beneath becoming larger. The ordinarily dull legs become a brighter red . . . "

Yellow-billed stork videos, photos and facts - Mycteria ibis | ARKive

[WPRESTO]

Here's the same mother & baby elephant pictured above, the juvenile was mingling elsewhere. The youngster shows better because the grass is shorter and also I think they've move to a lower elevation relative to my position.
Two BTW's: 1) about 2/3 of Chinese believe firmly that elephant tusks grow back like fingernails, consequently they have no problem with the ivory figurines traditionally given as gifts for good luck; 2) the Chinese government recently announced it will ban and shut down all ivory trade by 2018. HOORAY!!

[noelcmn]

3 young male impalas

[WPRESTO]

Female Andean condor.

[noelcmn]

Baboon

[aslyfox]

olive baboons in Arusha National Park Tanzania

eating and foraging

socializing and grooming