It is not often that one encounters a sleeping elephant, but a tourist to the Kruger National Park was fortunate enough to capture a close up photo of a bull taking a nap while leaning against a tree.
Johannesburg resident Wendy Kempster was on an afternoon game drive near the Punda Maria Rest Camp in the north of the park with her husband last month, when the couple came across a solitary bull with its head pressed against a large leadwood tree.
“He was standing dead still and had his eyes closed. We thought that maybe he was awake and expected his eyes to open at some point, but he just stood like that, obviously enjoying a nice nap,” said Kempster, who watched the animal for ten minutes before leaving him in peace.
“I have always been a nature lover and a big fan of elephants so it was quite a privilege to watch him,” said Kempster during a telephonic interview.
Wayne Mathews, a conservationist who has worked extensively in the Tembe National Elephant Park in KwaZulu Natal, explained that elephants normally sleep while standing, as their massive body weights are not able to handle long periods of lying down.
“They usually try to take an opportunity to nap whenever they can, usually during the day and not for longer than an hour. You normally have to look quite carefully to notice that one is actually sleeping, so this was a great sighting,” said Mathews. “Most times I have seen them, they are resting with the rear ends against a tree or a termite mound, so it is unusual that he was doing it the other way around.” - African Eye News Service
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