EPOW - Ecology Picture of the Week

Asian Elephant Love, Part I

Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus)
Periyar National Park, Kerela, India

Explanation:  It will soon be spring in the northern hemisphere, when Asian elephants' fancies turn to thoughts of love ... 

This week we are in the deep south of India in Periyar Tiger Reserve and National Park.  We are motoring across Periyar Lake, also called Mullaperiyar Reservoir formed by the damming of the local river.  

The Sanctuary is home to an amazing array of native Indian wildlife, but none is more impressive than the herds of Asian elephants.  And today we are special witness to a seldom-seen sight:  the mating of elephants ... in the water.  
  

Slowly emerging from the dense forests is a small her of
Asian elephants.
 

The smaller male, on the right (with tusks), is accompanied
by a larger female, as they head toward shoreline.
  

After carefully checking the area for predators or
competitors, the male enters the water first.
What follows next is documented in the main photo
sequences above.
  

The result of Asian Elephant Love !
  

We were so fortunate to observe this amazing scene.