CHARGE

Amboseli, 2021

In 2020 I first heard reports of a previously unknown big bull Elephant, a great tusker who appeared briefly in Amboseli. His reputation was of a quite unpredictable individual, who sometimes had charged at vehicles. This year in April I was in Amboseli one morning when I met a fellow guide who told me that the new tusker had just been seen not far from there. I headed into that direction and I immediately found him. He was chasing another bull across the plains. When he came close to the road I could see that he was in musth and wasn’t very happy with my presence. He shook his head and followed me as I drove away to give him space. As the other bull ran further and further away, he gave up the chase and stopped close to the track to browse. I took a couple of pictures of him coming towards me and I was immediately captured by his aura and charisma. Suddenly out of the bushes another bull appeared behind him with an aggressive attitude. When he saw him he immediately turned towards him and charged at full speed. The two clashed for a few seconds, until the other bull gave up and ran off with the tusker in hot pursuit. I was blown away by being in the middle of such a scene, a new bull establishing his rank in a new area. I had similar emotions as to when I met the late Tim in 2010 for the first time. The same thrill and feeling of being in the presence of a unique Elephant, a special individual. I hope he is here to stay and to see him roaming the Amboseli plains at the foot of Kilimanjaro for a very long time ahead.

Archival Pigment Print

Available editions:

Standard - Edition of 10 - Size 45" x 38"
Large - Edition of 10 - Size 60" x 50"
Extra Large - Edition of 3 - Size 80" x 69"