Wildlife photographer Will Burrard-Lucas had an awe-inspiring encounter with the legendary ‘Queen of Elephants,’ also known as F_MU1, in Tsavo, Kenya during the twilight years of her life.
Burrard-Lucas had embarked on a photography assignment with the Tsavo trust, focusing on elephants in the region. During his research, he came across the remarkable story of F_MU1, the Queen of Elephants, known for her gentle temperament and majestic presence.
After several days of searching, they finally found her, and Burrard-Lucas vividly recalls the moment: “Over the bushes, I caught a glimpse of an elephant’s back, and seconds later, she stepped out into the open.” “I was rendered speechless. F_MU1 was slender and aged, yet she moved with regal grace.
Her tusks were so long that they almost touched the ground in front of her. She was like a relic from a bygone era.” They spent an entire day observing her, as she led them to her favorite watering hole where she patiently waited her turn to drink.
Each photograph captured the queen’s true magnificence, with every wrinkle on her weathered skin representing a testament to her resilience against poaching, droughts, and other natural threats she had faced to survive till this stage.
Unfortunately, she passed away just weeks after Burrard-Lucas captured these photographs, most likely due to natural causes. Fortunately, these images will forever memorialize her.
She graces the cover of Burrard-Lucas’s book, “Land of Giants,” which chronicles years of elephant life in the Tsavo region.
Her long and thriving existence stands as a testament to the tireless efforts put forth by the Tsavo Trust and the Kenyan Wildlife Services to protect these majestic animals.
Burrard-Lucas reminisces about the experience, saying, “As a wildlife photographer, encountering a subject like F_MU1 is exceedingly rare.”
“A truly unique creature, perhaps the most remarkable of her species, and yet one that few have had the opportunity to photograph. The time I spent with her was a genuine privilege.”
Rewritten Source: https://pawmypets.com/professional-photographer-captures/