Ingenious Elephant Stands Tall to Reach Treetop Treats in Zimbabwe’s National Park

A series of captivating images depict an African bull elephant masterfully standing on its hind legs to grasp leaves in Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park.

Photographer Bobby-Jo Vial, 36, captured the remarkable display of strength, balance, and agility in September.

Vial said witnessing the elephant’s unique feeding behavior was a career highlight. This technique is typically observed among African bull elephants in Mana Pools, one of the few places where such behavior can be seen.

Vial mentioned that the elephant may have learned the skill by observing other bulls, especially when food is scarce in dry regions like Mana Pools.

The images have garnered much admiration from Vial’s friends, family, and followers, who are impressed by the elephant’s balancing act and the stunning afternoon light.

Once at severe risk of extinction due to poaching, African elephants have seen a decrease in illegal killings. In 2011, 10% of African elephants were killed illegally.

By 2017, this number dropped to 4%, possibly due to China’s declining demand for ivory. One of Africa’s largest wildlife preserves even celebrated a year without a single elephant killed by poachers.

However, conservationists warn that elephants still face significant threats, with an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 being killed annually, threatening the remaining population of roughly 350,000 elephants.

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