Pigmy Elephant

One of our study trips into the jungle to see the Bornean elephants. Like all Asian elephants they're smaller than the Africans but these Bornean ones surpass the Indian elephant in small stature (though still taller than head height).

The is one of the younger females who was far more curious than the others and was attempting to play with our Malaysian guides and our lecturer (who'd done a lot of work studying them).

Bornean elephants are unusual in that they don't tend to charge fully like Africans do. If nervous, they will mock charge but if you continue to come closer, they will turn their backs to you and flick their leg out in an attempt to 'kick' you. This provides a lot of hilarity when you simply step out from behind the elephant (where they can't see you) into their line of sight: surprised at your sudden appearance, the elephant will abandon their kicking tactics and simply run away from you!

Gorgeous creatures...

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