A lot of people value having a close family, but it’s also a trait that can be seen in the animal kingdom as well.
One day in the Kruger National Park located in South Africa, an incredible video was captured involving a herd of elephants. The strong bond it shows between the creatures is touching beyond belief.
It all began with a baby elephant stumbling in the road. People were watching from their stopped vehicles – when all of a sudden it started to collapse before their eyes.
Slowly the calf fell onto its knees, eventually lying flat on the ground. There it remained on its side, not moving.
As David Ogden Stiers quoted, “Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.”
The baby’s herd wasn’t about to just walk away. In the video, one of the family members approaches the little one and attempts to get it up with her foot and trunk.
But she’s not the only elephant that was concerned. The rest of the herd took notice of what was going on too.
Another joins in to help get the baby up from the road, then another. Even a calf appears and attempts to assist in the situation.
Yet, despite all their efforts – the baby continued to lie on the ground.
On top of being an intelligent species, elephants are also very tight-knit when it comes to their families.
The site, Elephants Forever, states:
“The basic unit of the herd is the immediate family. The herd is made up of the oldest and largest matriarch who leads her daughters and their offspring. A family can consist of anywhere between 2 and 50 elephants. Occasionally, other non-related females may be included in a herd, but this is rare.”
They also point out the creatures devotion, saying:
“Family members show loyalty, sympathy and an extreme sense of cooperation with one another. This is particularly evident when the herd needs to defend itself against attackers or rival herds, during the birth of a calf, in childcare, and in major decisions that need to be made on the herd’s behalf.”
The herd in the video was protective of their calves, which is why they grouped together to solve the problem. It’s uncertain though the real reason the elephant was immobile – whether it “couldn’t” get up, or was “refusing” to get up.
Regardless, they weren’t about to let their family separate.
Two elephants, in particular, stay persistent in the mission. An adult and a calf surround the baby in the road, trying to get it moving using their legs and trunks.
Finally, the older elephant is able to nudge the collapsed one enough that it slowly starts to rise. The group of three then walk off together back into the wilderness.
Many people have been moved by the scene, which has been watched on YouTube over 12 million times.
One person commented:
“This is so touching, I’m literally crying right, elephants are amazing creatures.”
Another person said:
“I love how caring they are for one another, but the other baby one stole my heart when it was trying to help too.”
We can all learn a thing or two from nature and the incredible ways that animals interact with their own species. It’s a scene that gives you a close up look into the beauty of the wild.
Press play below to witness it for yourself!
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