African elephants greeting each other
The African elephants are the largest land mammals on Earth, and live in family groups with complex social networks and hierarchies. These intelligent and empathetic animals form close bonds with members of their herd and have developed many ways to communicate affection and support for one another.
Elephants use their trunks much like we use our hands, and the ends of their trunks are more sensitive than human fingertips. Trunks have as many as 100,000 different muscles and play a central role in how they communicate with each other. Elephants stroke or caress each others' heads and backs with their trunks to console or comfort loved ones.
Touching is one of the primary ways elephants communicate to show they care. And elephants do indulge in a lot of touching, especially when greeting each other. They often stroke or lock their trunks in sheer excitement, put them over each other's heads, even put their ear over another male's rear or head, and use any way they can to touch each other.
The population of elephants is dropping and they are endangered due to climate change and poaching.
100 ELEPHANTS ARE ILLEGALLY POACHED EVERYDAY
The species are critically endangered! The elephant population in Africa is currently estimated to be around 400,000, a decline of over 100,000 in just the past decade - and poaching continues to threaten those numbers.
I remember the first time I saw elephants in the wild. These enormous giants walked gracefully past our safari vehicle, their footsteps making no sound at all. It was an electric feeling!
I spent 4 years in Tanzania, and saw first-hand how quickly the population is declining, and it became harder and harder to spot large herds of elephants in many game parks in Tanzanzia due to widespread poaching. Then I moved to Botswana, which outlawed elephant hunting and has really cracked down on poaching, and is now home to one of the largest elephants populations in Africa.
Along the Chobe River which separates Botswana from Namibia, it is easy to spot hundreds of elephants at one time, playing in the water, greeting each other like these two. I could go on forever how special seeing elephants in the wild, in their natural habitat, unafraid it is. And at the same time, knowing the clock is ticking and their numbers continue to decline.
This photo is an indication of the love and affection they have for each other, and is palpable when you are up close and personal with them.
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