Shower for Elephants

Species: African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)

Location: Eastern Cape, South Africa

At peace among its herd, this African elephant takes a mud bath at the watering hole. With temperatures in the mid-thirties this day, the muddy water serves two purposes, both cooling the skin and protecting it from harmful insolation. The fast shutter speed used here captures well the power of the elephant’s trunk as it sprays itself cool.