Location:Yala National Park, Sri Lanka, located in Hambanthota district. Surrounded by lagoons, sea, and grassland and bordering the Indian Ocean. It’s April 2019, during the dry season; most of the water holes are dry, and the vegetation is affected by climate change. The temperature has noticeably increased, up to 41 degrees and more.
I was in a safari jeep on my photographic tour near a filled water hole. All my gear checked and ready, I fired a few frames from all the Nikon bodies, then I found myself contemplating which shooting mode to use. I got so excited just looking at the whole surrounding area that I kept on thinking about using a signal frame or continuous autofocus mode. After a while, I took a deep breath and revisited my camera settings. After a few tweaks, I felt I was good to go with the assignment.
At a distance from the water hole, I could see a group of elephants breaking branches and feeding on tree bark and roots. The leader of the herd always made the first move, and the others would wait to see what it would do. The leader gradually stepped into the water hole with extreme caution and took a few sips of water to make sure all was well.
One by one, they all quenched their thirst, and after a while, I noticed how they got into the deeper parts of the water hole for a refreshing bath. At first, only the elders moved, and then gradually, the rest of the herd followed. They played and bullied each other. On top of another, elephant calf’s having their moment in the water while the elders kept them safe and out of trouble with their watchful eyes.
The entire herd—sisters, brothers, aunts, and uncles—shared the responsibility of staying vigilant and protecting the little ones. They got very defensive and aggressive when it came to protecting the calf’s.
Surprisingly, the water gave them enough buoyancy to float easily. They could swim completely submerged, with their heads above the water and their mouths below. They used all four legs to paddle. They sucked up water both to drink and to spray on their bodies. They didn’t just suck up water when it came to playtime; they sucked up mud as well. They sprayed while rolling in the mud, pushing each other
This herd had around 20 elephants; the majority were females and calves. They fed on what they could find around the waterhole. I found myself thinking that if this wasn’t a whole herd, maybe other members of the herd went and played somewhere else. However, the mud bath made sure their bodies were protected from the harsh sun. The mud stayed on their bodies like sunscreen. I was wondering why their thick skin still required a protective coating from mud. Perhaps they needed it for extended periods of time while traveling. Since this herd had a lot of calf’s, they tend to travel around to find food and water holes. I didn’t notice any dominant males mingling with the herd; some of them had earlier been chased away, but once in a while, they came back to play with the herd, especially with the offspring, where they could have conflicts with their mothers or young males.
The harsh weather didn’t bother them; their strong family bonds and that rich water source were enough to make them forget all the problems or challenges they would come across in the future. From strength to strength and from generation to generation, these giants evolved and survived in the most unforgiving conditions in Sri Lanka: animal poaching, droughts, and so on. It is remarkable that I could witness these moments and share my story with you.
After a long time of playing and bathing, the herd decided to come out of the water. They had burned off their energy and needed a few calories; eventually, the hunger got them to come out of the water. They stormed away like a giant moving wall, heading towards the thick vegetation.
When I headed back to my camp, I had a light and quick dinner that night. Next, I went straight to my laptop to review the images I took. Everywhere was pitch black; there was only a small lamp hanging, providing very little light. However, I went through the whole gallery one by one, still feeling the vibration of their feet and their vocal rhythms of joyfully playing in the water. As I went to bed, I prepared my gear for the next day.
Content and images by Kusal Gautamadasa.
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