An African elephant in Botswana seemed to take inspiration from the legend of the Loch Ness Monster as it playfully submerged in the Chobe River, its trunk reaching above the water in a scene reminiscent of the famous 1934 “Nessie” photograph.
The familiar pose brings to mind the iconic shot taken by Dr. Kenneth Wilson, who claimed to have spotted the mysterious creature in Scotland’s Loch Ness and quickly captured it on film.
Unlike the elusive monster, this “Nessie look-alike” soon revealed itself, as the elephant’s head and tusks broke the water’s surface. This charming display was all part of a cooling ritual to escape the intense African heat.
After splashing around with other elephants, it took a deep dive, using its trunk as a snorkel—a clever adaptation seen in elephants during their frequent river swims.
The delightful scene was captured by French photographers Laurent Renaud, 57, and Dominique Haution, 56.
Dominique shared, “The elephant waded into the water and went under right away. When it lifted its trunk like a snorkel, it was so funny! It played and tossed itself around like a young calf for about 20 minutes.”
Botswana, home to Africa’s largest elephant population, sees up to 50,000 elephants along the Chobe River during the dry season when water sources in other regions are scarce.
The country’s protected wilderness areas and anti-poaching measures have contributed significantly to the growth of its elephant population, making Botswana a safe haven for these majestic animals.
