The theme for the 60th Steemit Photo Challenge hosted by Hive account@jamtaylor is Animal Portraits, so I have a great final entry here:

Look how much energy and personality was conveyed in the meeting between this sweet elephant and my friend Mal!! 

Thank goodness Mal was dressed in blue, because she almost blends right into the wall. 😂 

This encounter was after a very funny safari we went on through the Rajaji National Forest in Idia. We didn't see a single elephant on the tour, but afterwards were offered to visit the "domestic" elephant - which apparently means they get chained on one leg and kept under a carport. 

I loved her. She helped herself to an orange I had in my bag. Her handler whacked her with a stick, and she took it away from him to scratch her belly with it. 

She was a very nice, gentle lady, and her living conditions made me sad. I would not like to be chained up, even if it was in some "nice" place with "nice" people taking care of me! This was my last experience/involvement with animal tourism.

After that, we had chai with a cow.

💛 Sara!