Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

16th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
A pygmy elephant seen along the Kinabatangan River

Every time I look at this photo it fills me with wonder and amazement. It brings me back to the sound of pygmy elephants trumpeting and crunching through the dense vegetation and me hoping to catch a glimpse of them. Being able to see pygmy elephants in the wild is something I will never forget. It will forever be ingrained in my memory. This photo makes me incredibly happy and nostalgic, but also heartbroken. Pygmy elephants along with many other wild animals are having to deal with severe habitat loss due to human expansion. This photo is a reminder that we have to do more to protect their environment. I'm hoping that when you look at this photo you will be able to see the need to protect this creature and all the other species that need our help.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 07.2018
Date Uploaded: 11.2018
Photo Location: Sabah, Malaysia
Camera: NIKON D3400
Copyright: © Amy Hilger