Brave Mother Elephant Dives into Furious River to Rescue Her Struggling Calf

Soutine, an elephant in Kenya, recently faced a terrifying ordeal while crossing a river with her 3-week-old calf.

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The newborn lost its footing and was swiftly carried away by the powerful current. Fortunately, this courageous mother was not about to let her baby face danger alone.

A video captured by Matt Brierley, a photographer associated with Save the Elephants, shows Soutine bravely diving into the river to save her calf.

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After taking several daring leaps through the water, Soutine reached her calf with her extended trunk.

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Soutine is struggling to save her calf in the raging river. Source: Matt Brierley/Save the Elephants

However, the baby continued to fight against the strong current, struggling to keep its trunk above water to breathe.

Eventually, Soutine pushed her calf between her legs, shielding it from being swept away, and carefully guided it to shore.

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While this heartwarming video demonstrates a mother elephant’s unwavering love for her baby, it also highlights the devastating impact of elephant poaching.

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Soutine pushed her calf between her legs to prevent him from getting swept away. Source: Matt Brierley/Save the Elephants

Soutine’s mother, Chagall, is believed to have been killed by poachers for her ivory, leaving Soutine to raise her calf without the guidance of her mother.

Chagall vanished in 2012 when Soutine was only around ten years old. Soutine and her sister had to learn to survive on their own.

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David Daballen, head of operations at Save the Elephants, explained that Chagall’s disappearance coincided with the height of the poaching crisis in northern Kenya. Consequently, Soutine and her sister lived a difficult life on the edge of their herd.

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Soutine and her newborn baby earlier this month. Source: Matt Brierley/Save the Elephants
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Soutine’s newborn calf. Source: Matt Brierley/Save the Elephants
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Daballen emphasized that the death of an older female elephant affects the individual and has far-reaching consequences for the entire family.

Young elephants are left orphaned, inexperienced females lack the knowledge passed down by their elders, and their calves suffer.

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Soutine’s struggles have persisted as a mother, living on her herd’s outskirts. Daballen believes she was attempting to rejoin her herd when she and her calf encountered the treacherous river crossing.

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Soutine and her calf, with the rest of their herd. Source: Matt Brierley/Save the Elephants

Despite her challenging circumstances, Soutine has proven to be a devoted and capable mother, as seen in her heroic rescue of her baby.

The video concludes with Soutine and her calf safely emerging from the river, walking along the shore, and the calf nuzzling its mother to nurse.

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Soutine’s calf stays close to his mother. Source: Matt Brierley/Save the Elephants
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Soutine and her baby emerged safely from the river. Source: Matt Brierley/Save the Elephants

Read more Elephant News.


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Canidae Pet Food Reviews: An In-Depth Look

Choosing the right pet food is crucial for the health and well-being of our furry friends. In this blog post, we'll delve deep into Canidae pet food, a popular choice among pet owners, and provide an in-depth review based on various sources.

Canidae is a well-known brand in the pet food industry, offering a range of products designed to cater to pets of all ages, breeds, and sizes.

Product Range:

  • Canidae All-Life Stages (Dry): This vet-formulated product suits dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes. It's available in both dry and wet formulas.
  •  Canidae Pure: A limited-ingredient diet crafted for dogs with food sensitivities. Each recipe typically includes 7 to 10 ingredients.

Key Ingredients

The Canidae All Life Stages Multi Protein Formula, which represents the brand's product line, contains ingredients like chicken meal, turkey meal, brown rice, peas, oatmeal, and barley. Chicken meal, the primary ingredient, is a meat concentrate with nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

Recalls and Safety

Canidae has had recalls in the past. It's essential to stay updated with the brand's recall history to ensure your pet's safety.

Customer Reviews

The Canidae Dog Food product line has earned an overall rating of 4.5 stars from The Dog Food Advisor. The Canidae All Life Stages Dog Food has received the Advisor's second-highest tier rating of 4.5 stars.

Pros and Cons:

  • Pros: High protein content, suitable for all life stages, contains beneficial ingredients like flaxseed and taurine.
  •  Cons: It contains some controversial ingredients, and not all minerals are chelated, which might affect absorption.

Conclusion

Canidae All Life Stages is a grain-inclusive dry dog food that uses a notable amount of named meat meals as its primary source of animal protein. With an above-average protein content and a profile suggesting a significant amount of meat, it comes highly recommended for pet owners.