It Takes a Herd to Raise a Child (African Elephant)

painting of an African elephant family, moms and aunties with a baby, image by queer artist Gwenn Seemel — Gwenn Seemel
*It Takes a Herd to Raise a Child (African Elephant)*
2012
acrylic on panel
10 x 10 inches

Children can be raised by an extended family of individuals brought together by blood or by choice.

Like many ungulates, male and female African elephants live in separate groups. Led by a matriarch, female herds are composed of related and unrelated elephants, all of them working together to raise the calves.

There are so many ways to be.

See all the images and text by downloading or purchasing Crime Against Nature, the book.

elephant painting by wildlife illustrator Gwenn Seemel — detail image