ELEPHANT FAMILY'S MORNING OUTING AT HOLLONG SALT PIT ....

Elephants are Crepuscular. They are classified as Mega herbivores and consume up to 150 kg (330 lb) of plant matter per day. They are generalist feeders, and both grazers and browsers , and were recorded to feed on 112 different plant species, most commonly of the order Mal vales, and the legumes , palm , sedge and true grass families. They browse more in the dry season with bark constituting a major part of their diet in the cool part of that season . They drink at least once a day and are never far from a permanent source of fresh water. They need 80–200 litres of water a day for consumption . In addition to it they require significant amount of salt and minerals . Very often we do encounter “geophagy” or dirt eating habits of elephants , this is mainly to supplement low sodium levels in food and water supplies as elephants are heavily muscular ( almost 40,000 muscles constitute their trunks ) they need lots of minerals i.e, sodium , potassium , calcium etc as these cations are required for the muscle contraction . Elephants often seek out natural mineral licks, regions of soil where minerals are concentrated. In different forests of India the forest department has made up some “ salt licks” where elephants and also other animals can come down and fulfil their requirement of salt . At jaldapara national park there is one hollong salt pit which is one of the very few natural salt licks India has and one of the best place to sight these magnificent animals in large numbers . In a foggy frosty morning around 5 am we sighted this beautiful elephant herd headed by the wise and experienced matriarch , who herself is massive in size , 2 other adult females , one sub adult makana (tusk less bull ) , 5 babies of different sizes but above all a huge young tusker in musth . The sighting lasted for only 15 minutes but was really enjoyable and we could click more than 200 photographs . 

ID : Elephas Maximus ( Indian elephant )
Place : Jaldapara National Park

Nikon D3200 , with Nikor VR AF-S 55-300 .... f/5 , Exp Time : 1/500 Sec , ISO : 850 , focal length : 175 MM