~~~~~
With dreams of Africa again next year,
my Details post comes from where else…Africa. 🙂
~~~~
Our first 2013 elephant sighting in
South Africa’s
Kruger National Park…
….did not provide any more detail
than we would note at a zoo.
Even this tusk while showing more detail
is still a cropped effort from a fair distance,
therefore not really good.
~~~
However, upon our arrival at Elephant Whispers,
Tembo, a 6 ton male, helped us out.
Note the eye and lashes.
~~~
Not to mentioned the size of
the nail clippers required
to keep his feet manicured. 🙂
By now you have realised he is
on the ground for inspection.
MGW found a warm spot under her hand.
She blushed a bit when told it was
the heat from his testicles.
~~~
Although no-one in our group wore one
many local females (from memory)
were wearing a wrist bracelet
made from elephant tail hair.
~~~
Not a cabbage leaf, rather the rear side Tembo’s ear.
Apparently the flapping of ears
helps with air conditioning the body.
~~~
Note the wear and tear of life on the tusk.
~~~
While in the area of tusks, this is a sight
I have never before seen, or am likely to see again.
A work colleague of 2013 did not recognise
this view of Tembo’s trunk.
~~~
Want to know how tall an elephant is?
Step 1. Ask it to lie-down on the ground.
Step 2. Measure circumference of its front foot.
Multiply circumference by 2.0 and you have
the height of its shoulder from the ground.
Therefore, a 1.5 metre foot circumference is
equal to 3.0 metres tall at the shoulder.
~~~
Elephants have four toes on their front feet,
and only three toes on their rear feet which
are also a very different shape.
~~~
Lots of living showing on the tusks.
~~~
However…
…there were other things to think of
rather than look at all those details
while we were under Tembo’s trunk.
~~~~~
Lens-Artist Photo Challenge Patti: Detail
Lens-Artist Photo Challenge Leya: Detail
Lens-Artist Photo Challenge Amy: Detail
Lens-Artist Photo Challenge Tina: Detail
What a marvelous post, Woolly! I love learning about and seeing these details up close. I truly enjoyed this!
LikeLike
Thank you, Patti….glad you enjoyed. 😊😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stunning details Woolly!
LikeLike
Thank you, Aletta. At the time I thought it was very interesting…still do! 🙂
LikeLike
Absolutely
LikeLike
Wow, such great closeup details!
LikeLike
Thank you. Tembo was quite obliging 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Woolly muses these are some incredible shots of Tombo !!
LikeLike
Thanks James. Tembo was certainly a highlight of that trip.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He looks like a true giant from Africa. Standing in front of his legs blows me away.
LikeLike
As I know WM I am a HUGE fan of elephants but I don’t think even I would allow one quite that close! Wonderful details.
LikeLike
Thank you, Tina. It was a great experience with Tembo. Tembo’s mother was killed (Poachers I think) when he was younger. He went a bit silly and killed 6 hippos before he settled down. Our guide helped raise him for several years.
LikeLike
Thank you for the details of this creature. These are great images, Woolly!
Yes, there were other things to think of… so sad.
LikeLike
Thank you, Amy 🙂
LikeLike
So many interesting details – and some I will never see myself. Thank you for a thorough close-up of an elephant!
LikeLike
Something I/we never expected either.
LikeLiked by 1 person