This is the heart-warming moment two young African elephants locked trunks in a touching embrace that was caught on camera . The very public display of human-like affection was photographed by Jacques Matthysen at the Kariega Game Reserve , east of Port Elizabeth , South Africa . It occurred while a herd of nearly 30 elephants playfully chased each other and rolled around on the floor at the popular tourist destination . Photographer Jacques Matthysen said two young elephants locked trunks , like humans would hold hands , in a touching embrace . Jacques , who works as a photographer for the reserve , said he is used to seeing the young elephants act in a playful manner , but their affectionate behaviour took him by surprise . As Jacques and a group of visitors looked on , two of the elephants stopped chasing each other and entwined their trunks in a loving gesture . At one point it appeared as if they were ‘ kissing ’ . The 37-year-old photographer said : ‘ The mood in the herd seemed “ excited ” . We moved out to a safer distance - about 50 metres ( 164ft ) - away when one of the younger bulls , about eight years of age , started chasing a younger bull . The heart-warming moment occurred as a herd of nearly 30 elephants playfully chased each other and rolled around on the floor . ‘ What we first thought to be aggression , turned out to be all playfulness . ‘ Soon a number of younger bulls and cows started to play around . They pushed , head butted and rolled onto each other for quite a few minutes . ‘ Soon after , it looked like they were embracing each other , with gentle touches to the faces with their trunks. ’ Jacques Matthysen , the game reserve 's photographer , said the elephants ' affectionate behaviour caught him by surprise . He said two of the elephants locked trunks like humans would hold hands . ‘ I quickly focused my camera on them , to capture the “ loving ” moment . ‘ I am very happy with the sighting and images . This just shows us how these giants , that can be so dangerous and so aggressive , can in fact be so gentle and loving animals . ’
Jacques Matthysen photographed the heart-warming moment at Kariega Game Reserve in South Africa . It occurred as a herd of nearly 30 elephants playfully chased each other and rolled around on the floor . Mr Matthysen , the reserve 's photographer , said the elephants ' affectionate behaviour took him by surprise .