Photo by @FransLanting Watching elephants is endlessly fascinating. When a calf is born into a herd everyone gets excited and wants to touch and smell the newborn. The pace of the herd—made up of related females and their offspring—slows down to accommodate the needs of the youngest. The adults become very protective and surround the calf at all times. You can’t get close without causing commotion, so I made this image with a long lens from a respectful distance. This baby had been born just a day earlier; it could barely walk and its trunk was still limp. It takes young elephants a few weeks before they learn how to manage the many complex muscles that govern a trunk. It’s endearing to see them struggle with that odd appendage. Follow me @FransLanting and @ChristineEckstrom for more intimate stories from the world of elephants.
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