An orphaned elephant in Thailand has formed a heartwarming bond with two rescue dogs, and recent footage captured the trio sharing a unique moment.
At the Tiemchan Elephant Camp in Chiang Mai, six-year-old Valentine, a female elephant, was seen giving her two canine friends, Hiccup and Maa, a ride on her back.
Valentine, born at the sanctuary, carefully carried her dog companions as they enjoyed the view from above.
In a clip filmed on August 27, Valentine kneels, allowing a staff member to help two-year-old black Labrador Hiccup onto her back.
Moments later, Maa, the other dog, runs over and is lifted onto Valentine’s back, completing the joyful scene.
The trio’s friendship began when Hiccup, after being rescued, was brought to the sanctuary. Valentine and Hiccup quickly became inseparable, and their friendship grew even stronger with the arrival of Maa. Now, the three often share these tandem rides under the watchful eyes of the sanctuary staff.
Chaimongkol Kananok, a staff member at the camp, spoke about the strong bond between Valentine and Hiccup, noting how rare it is for dogs and elephants to get along so well.
“I was surprised,” Chaimongkol said. “Hiccup acts like Valentine’s bodyguard and is always by her side, even while she sleeps.”
The Asian elephant, classified as endangered, is the largest land mammal on the continent. Thailand is home to about 3,000 elephants, many of which live in sanctuaries, parks, and tourist facilities.
Valentine’s special friendship with Hiccup and Maa shows the deep connections animals can form, even across different species.
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