TITLE: Mourning

An elephant died a painful death - poached by a poisoned arrow of a greedy human. We witnessed this tragic elephant funeral. The herd performed a totally silent and dignified "ceremony". They first brought the little calf into the family circle. Each adult then gently raised for a few moments the head, laying it down gently, circumambulated the body and walked a little distance away without a backward glance. The little calf was bewildered by a mother lying so still, not responding to her tugs, the family walking away. Finally she realised she too had to bid goodbye to her mother and the grief was clear in her eyes and the very posture of her body. Another orphan has been left behind.

Please click on each of the photographs to view the whole frame.

AUTHOR: Swati P. S. & Siddharth Ramaswamy (Singapore)

We are hobby photography enthusiasts. We have been privileged to live for more than a decade across Africa. This continent is not just about harsh conditions or natural wealth to be exploited by an uncaring world. Africa is about simplicity and incredible natural beauty - we believe the world should know this and work towards preserving it. The love and respect for nature that Africa nurtured in us has opened our eyes towards the rest of this beautiful planet. We have begun exploring other continents and their inhabitants with fresh perspectives!