Equinox

This photo of a bull elephant called Equinox was taken earlier this year in Amboseli & is one of my favourite photographs that I have taken this year.



However, when I first reviewed the images of him, I was disappointed, because for all that I liked about it, the fact that he had no tusks meant that I felt there was something lacking.



When I go on photo safaris I like to find out the backstory of some of the species that I am photographing, & in this instance I contacted the Amboseli Trust for Elephants to see if they could give me some insight into how Equinox had lost his tusks. The ATE are an amazing conservation trust who have in depth knowledge of all the Elephant families in Amboseli built up over 50 years. What they told me was truly fascinating.



Equinox was born a twin 40 years ago & remarkably both he & his sister Eclipse survived to adulthood. To be born a twin is extremely rare, but for both to survive is rarer still. Then earlier this year he broke both his tusks, but they didn't know whether it was in a fight or as a result of falling on rocks. Either way as they were broken so high the nerve would have been exposed so this would have been extremely painful. Like you & I breaking our front teeth. Equinox has had to recover & learn how to feed without his tusks. On top of this he, as well as all the elephant families are currently dealing with one of the worst droughts in recent memory in the Amboseli eco system. The situation is critical & every day without rain is having a profound impact for all concerned.