Once a day the elephants of the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka are brought down to the Maha Oya River for a bath and for the tourists. The tourists line up along the route, as the elephants are assembled on the riverbank. Once the lone matriarch is lead away, the others are ready to follow. The team of mahouts then urge the elephant herd forward. I captured this image as the herd surged forward eagerly, within touching distance of the public. Truly a wonderful spectacle.