We’ve all seen young elephants chasing guinea fowl, charging warthogs, or playfully harassing butterflies. Their playfulness is boundless, though sometimes their games turn into mock charges—part of growing up and learning how to navigate the world.
Adolescent elephants are often seen taking on the role of the askari, self-appointed guardians of the herd, testing boundaries and learning what it means to protect their family. This piece captures that unpredictable, mischievous, and endearing stage of elephant life. I photographed this behaviour with our Nomad guide Joel near their Lamai camp nestled within the Kogakuria Kopje.
Elephant Adolescent 2025 is made as a stand alone sculpture or to scale with Elephant Cow and Calf 2025 and or Elephant Bull 2025.