paul_williams_photography

One of the toughest things I've had to photograph. We literally saw this elephant calf being born in the pouring rain of South Africa - rain, according to our ranger, that was well in excess of even the worst season he could remember. Elation very quickly turned to sadness when it became obvious the mud was preventing the newborn from standing to suckle - crucial if it was going to survive. Painful as it was I was determined to honour its short life and to highlight the fact we, the human race, have contributed to climate change conditions already creating ghettoes where nature cannot survive and yes, I'm aware that includes my journey to witness this event. How I resolve that I'm still not sure about. The calf died two hours later.