Affectionate: Pictures capture the moment an orphaned baby elephant that was speared and stoned by angry villagers gave her rescuer a kiss of gratitudeGrateful: Mbegu was targeted by locals in Kimanjo, Kenya in a revenge attack after a woman was killed by another elephantCruel: The innocent calf was separated from the rest of the herd after she was set upon by angry villagers and was injured during the commotion. She was left injured in a classroom (pictured) after being stoned by school childrenOn the mend: Mbegu found a new home with the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT) Nursery in Nairobi National Park
Rescue mission: Wardens from the Naibunga Conservancy was forced to intervene and protect the young animal. The animal is pictured during a flight to her new homeEmergency care: The baby elephant was found with bad injuries before being transferred to her new home at a Kenyan reserve
Up and running: Mbegu, pictured just after arriving at her new home, quickly found her feet and has been a big hit at the sanctuaryGratitude: Edwin, a David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust keeper, receives some affection from Mbegu, an orphaned baby elephantIntroduction: Mbegu (right) was timid at first but was introduced to other elephants and soon found her feet at the sanctuaryThirsty work: Mbegu greatfully accepts a drink from one of her keepers as she continues to recover from her horrific ordeal
Her rescuers say Mbegu appears ‘hooked on her keepers, never forgetting the love and tenderness they have shown her’New outfit: Rescuers fitted the baby orphaned elephant with a blanket to keep her warm as she continued her recuperationBath time: Keepers say Mbegu likes nothing better than to plunge into mud and cool off in the water at the sanctuary
Mbegu gives her keeper a kiss and a cuddle. She narrowly escaped death when angry villagers attacked her with stonesMbegu has proven to be very loving towards her keepers despite the trauma originally suffered at the hands of humansKeepers have described as a ‘perfect little treasure’ who has ‘bounced back from her emotional scarring very quickly’
