THE BIGGEST AND THE TALLEST

"The ground we recklessly trample on will

one day become our sacred cealing"

(Lopez-Espina, 2020)

Excluding the period when large male mammals battle for dominance, these gentle giants live a rather peaceful existence. The old or very young sometimes fall prey to certain predators, but for most part, their formidable size suffices to discourage attacks. Unlike smaller mammals, many of these larger species have preserved certain prehistoric features from their ancestors. The elephant, giraffe, rhinoceros, and even the American bison are prominent examples. Their peculiar bodies or heads make them unique when compared to the rest of our species.

I have spent years photographing in the wild and scrutinizing animal behavior. It’s funny when folks proclaim lions as the ‘King of the Jungle.’ The rightful holder of that title should be the largest land mammal on Earth—the African elephant. No predator dares to confront them, and when elephants arrive at a waterhole, they own it, leaving no doubt as to who is the imperial ruler of their habitat.