ELEPHANT I

Inspiration - Kenya 1982

This elephant’s tusks show the effects of heavy use.  Using their tusks as tools, elephants pry bark off tree trunks, move branches, and dig up roots and grass to eat.  I observed one standing in shallow water quietly feeding on water hyacinths.  After pulling out the plants he slapped them on one tusk to break them each time before feeding.  Sometimes one tusk is shorter than the other.  The elephant wears it down by using it more, much as people favor one hand.  Both male and female African elephants have tusks.  Males will often use their tusks in sparring with each other to test their strength.  Tusks can also be used for defense or attack.

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