When this image was first published, I naively underestimated the range of responses. From amazement to outright horror, they served as a reminder of how radically our perception of elephants differs from the way we regard other species. From the outset of my two-year project in Savute, capturing this rare behaviour was one of my primary goals and the once-in-a-lifetime sighting was the reward for relentless hours of tracking, watching and waiting in the field – but it was also brutal to watch. As a wildlife photographer, it is easy to become desensitised in the heat of the moment and so focused on ‘getting the shot’ that normal human emotions are temporarily suspended. It may even be a prerequisite for the job. After the event, natural empathy returns, and with no way for the lions to throttle the elephant, the protracted end was not pleasant to watch. But death is a necessary part of nature’s circle of life, and the elephant’s demise enabled a pride of 13 lions to survive.
Some people come on safari year after year with
the express purpose of seeing a kill. For others the very idea of one animal
taking another's life is abhorrent. Fortunately the diversity and quantity of
wildlife in Africa allows plenty of room for both schools of thought. For those
of us that live here, though, things are a little different. The population of
lions has dropped by over 40% in the last two decades and with human population
growth continuing to escalate, the future looks bleak. Clearly in order
to survive, lions must eat and in order to eat, another animal has to die. This
is an inescapable truth. It may not be pleasant to watch, but it is an
intrinsic part of their character and the most important skill cubs are taught
by their parents. To have a chance of safe-guarding their future, we need to
learn everything we can about them and to fully understand these majestic
beasts for what they really are, we cannot afford to ignore the one thing they
need to do to survive.
