The cries of a distressed elephant caught villagers’ attention near the southern border of South Luangwa National Park in Zambia.
Upon investigation, they discovered a 3-week-old baby elephant trapped in a shallow pit while his mother desperately tried to free him.
The pit was likely the result of soil excavation for brick molding, leaving a shallow hole that proved too difficult for the baby elephant to escape. Despite her best efforts, the mother elephant could not help her calf.
Rachel McRobb, CEO and co-founder of Conservation South Luangwa (CSL), recounted how the mother elephant frantically tried to rescue her baby but couldn’t succeed.
A team from CSL, a wildlife veterinarian, and park rangers quickly intervened. They tranquilized the mother to ensure her safety and calmness before assisting the baby.
With the help of three scouts, McRobb jumped into the pit and lifted the baby elephant out. They carried him to his mother before administering the antidote to wake her up.
The baby eagerly reunited with his mother, staying close as the vet gave her the treatment.
Upon waking, the mother allowed her baby to nurse, both visibly relieved to be together again. After the baby had his fill, the two elephants wandered side by side.
McRobb expressed that the most emotional aspects of the rescue were witnessing the baby stand by his mother during the antidote administration and the joy on the faces of everyone involved. The heartwarming return was a highlight of her year.
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