African Wildlife & Environment Issue 76 FINAL

FAUNA, FLORA & WILDLIFE

wife Sharna nearby to be able to offer assistance, helped give this story a happy ending. The last photo that was taken just before Tshokwane knocked Daryl over isan iconiconedue to the feelings it evokes when you think of what happened just seconds after the shutter was pressed. K r u g e r - 2 - K a l a h a r i interviewed the Balfours and a summarised extract as told by Daryl Balfour of the incident follows: “Briefly, I'd approached the elephant on foot about one to two kilometers off the road (which we had special permission to do in Kruger) and started taking my shots. Tshokwane made a series of mock-charges, which I photographed. I then 'shoo-ed' him off and turned and walked away.Tshokwane retreated some way then went back to feeding. After Ihadgoneabout100meters I looked back and preferred the light and the setting, so decided to return for a few more images. This was my first mistake. I walked to within about 40 meters of Tshokwane and noticed that he was aware of me but continued feeding. This was the kind of behaviour I had become accustomed to with the other big old tuskers I had worked around. I set my tripod down low and sat on the ground to commence shooting. "Suddenly Tshokwane charged. At about 15 meters from me he stoppedhischarge,thencurledhis trunk under his chest, trumpeted shrilly, lowered his head and charged in all earnestness. I continuedphotographing,saying to myself 'This is for real! Great shots!' My second mistake was that I continued photographing until my lens would no longer focus. By then Tshokwane was less than three meters from me, approaching in a cloud of dust. I knew I was in trouble!

The elephant captured moments before impact Dar yl Bal four/Wi ldphotosSafar is.com

14 | African Wildlife & Environment | Issue 76 (2020)