His eyes have seen, and now he wanders the crater, passing his last days on the world. Elephants never die from old age; they die from starvation. It is a tragedy of biology that an elephant can only survive as long as his teeth. He receives five sets during a lifetime; each lasting around ten years. After that, he can no longer properly chew the fronds and leaves he requires, and thus cannot digest his needed nourishment. I can imagine that the end is slow and agonizing, utterly unfair for a creature nearly as intelligent as humans. This lone bull has had decades of experiences; it’s a shame to see those disappear for nought.
2008-01-05
1/180 sec, f 6.3, ISO 200, 250 mm
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