Wildlife biologists have terms that describe the various benefits of friendship among different species. 

Mutualism : beneficial for both side ; among us humans, we tactically called it  “a win-win”.  

Commensalism : one-sided  benefits without harming the other side ; this is often thought of as “ I’m just smarter”.  

Parasitism : one side benefits at the expense of another, some treacherously think “I am more cunning”.

The photographer’s image of an elephant with cattle egrets perched on its head reminds us of mutualistic friendship. Both sides do things for each other : the elephant provides meals for the cattle egrets, and the egrets offer grooming and danger warnings for their giant friend when situation demands. This image also serves as a metaphor, and somewhat ironically, prompts us to reflect on our own relationships. 

Being supposedly smartest living beings on Earth, do we possess enough wisdom-like the elephants-to see that sometimes an unlikely, seemingly plain friend, such as the cattle egret, could be the one to clean us up and may even save our lives.

Photo by Steve of African Elephant and Cattle Egrets