In a fascinating display of natural behavior, an Indian elephant was captured taking a sudden nosedive off a road in Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand.
Initially walking behind a safari vehicle, the female elephant abruptly veered off the track and thrust her head and trunk into the grassy verge, even lifting one leg off the ground as she pressed into the damp earth.
Photographer Arpit Kubba, who filmed the unusual scene, was curious about what the elephant was doing and asked his guides for an explanation.
“This female elephant was coming head-on towards us normally, and suddenly she went down. We were all like, ‘What just happened?’” Kubba recalled.
The guides explained that elephants often use morning dew mixed with soil to soothe fly bites and parasite infections, which can be itchy. The moisture and dirt act as a natural remedy, relieving by coating their sensitive skin.
“It’s like an elephant’s version of a facial,” said Kubba. “The forehead and trunk are very sensitive, and they avoid rubbing them on anything hard. It was incredible to witness how these animals use their environment to self-medicate naturally.”
Kubba captured the remarkable moment using a Canon 1DX Mark II with a 300mm lens from about 500 yards away.
Read more Elephant News.
