49.1

I came across this bull Elephant a few weeks prior to taking this photograph while leading a walking safari in the Lower Zambezi National park. The Winter thorns (Faidherbia albida) had a full crop of pods and the annual elephant migration into the area had started. We were noticing more and more different individuals. All had there unique way going about trying to get at these pods, most would just stand and stretch with their trunks, others would lift one foot creating a tripod. However there was only a handfull in the park, and just this one in our area that could stand in full stretch on two legs. From what I have seen its a learnt behaviour, and a fairly simple process that uses minimal energy to perform. There would be a rocking motion while the head and trunk are help high, then a shift in body weight to the hips and back legs and up he goes. The longest I saw him stand was for 3 minuites, fortunatly I hand my camera close at hand and was given the privilege to photograph this truly amazing sight.