Mana Pools Elephant cubs

Mana Pools in Zimbabwe is a unique places and the Elephants have a different behaviour than in other african parks. A lot of cubs could be observed

The gestation of the African elephant is the longest of all mammals: 22 months.

A single puppy is born from gestation and is lovingly cared for by its mother, nursing it for almost five years.
For this reason, elephant mothers give birth on average every 4 -5 years.

The puppies are always well protected not only by their mother, to whom they always stay very close, but by the whole herd and other females.
In the event of the death of the mother, the cub is taken over by other females in the herd.

When taking some courage and walking away, the cubss carefully looks around and sometimes fakes attacks by waving his big ears toward other animals.

These photos taken in the park of Mana Pools show three different puppies but very similar in attitudes with their mother, until they go to feed on their mother's milk.