The baby elephant Chaba arrived at Elephant Nature Park in Thailand, feeling slightly anxious about her new surroundings.
But her fears were quickly put to rest when Pyi Mai, another baby elephant, came running over to hug her by interlocking their trunks.
Watch the video at the end.
As if to say, “Welcome home!” Pyi Mai’s warm embrace showed Chaba that she was not alone. And that was just the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
According to the park’s projects director Ry Emmerson, elephants hug by wrapping their trunks together like humans. This gesture is a sign of love and support, and Chaba and Pyi Mai soon became inseparable.
“They are constantly communicating through vocalizations and touch,” Emmerson said. “The love they show to each other is pure and unconditional. It’s something we can all learn from and so heartwarming to witness.”
Chaba and Pyi Mai were both rescued from tourist attractions that mistreated animals, along with their mothers. Now, they get to live the rest of their lives in a herd, doing all their favorite activities.
Their favorite activity is playing in the mud pit together. “They will often stay in the mud playing for hours with careless abandon,” Emmerson said. And they have developed a reputation around the rescue for their supportive, affectionate, and occasionally lousy relationship.
“We lovingly call them ‘double trouble,'” Emmerson said. “They are inseparable, always playing and getting up to mischief together — just as they should!”
Chaba and Pyi Mai prove that love and friendship can be found even in the darkest places. They are always there for each other, offering a hug or a nudge to let the other know they are not alone. And that is a beautiful thing to witness.
Watch the video below:
Read more Elephant News.