In 1977, Africa had over a million elephants. Today, half of them are gone, all because of those two ivory tusks that come at us out of this image. While it is now illegal to kill an elephant in Africa, the slaughter continues. Farmers shoot them, and poaching is still rampant. I asked one of my guides, a former Scout for the Zambian wildlife service, why poaching can't be stopped in South Luangwa Park. He told me that the Park is over 5,000 square miles in size, and only a tiny fraction of it can be visited -- the rest is a wilderness domain, without roads or patrols. And so ivory poaching continues to remain an issue in not only this park, but in parks throughout Africa. I composed this image with those prized ivory tusks as its focal point. A symbolic arrow made up of the sun struck leaves in its mouth points directly at them. The angle of the warm light illuminates the textures on the skin of the elephant – every wrinkle and crease stands out in bold relief, underscoring its age and toughness. Yet the two ivory tusks remain its most vulnerable point – it could well die because of them. This image is a study in irony – the elephant’s most potent weapon might well spell its doom.