In a touching display, an orphaned baby elephant, Chabakeaw, sought comfort from her human caretaker after being rejected by her herd following an attempted reintroduction into the wild.
The two-year-old elephant was initially found alone and stuck in mud in Bueng Kan, northeastern Thailand, on April 4th and subsequently rescued by wildlife officers.
After five months of attentive care and rehabilitation, the wildlife department decided to release Chabakeaw into her original herd on September 18th.
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Unfortunately, two days later, she was found abandoned a mile from the release site and taken back into care.
A heartwarming video captured last Friday shows Chabakeaw curling up in the lap of her human caregiver for a nap, clearly feeling safe and secure in their embrace.
Pichet Noonto, an elephant specialist from the IUCN Species Survival Commission, explained that Chabakeaw’s extended time with humans may have hindered her ability to reintegrate into the wild.
“We believe the herd leader did not accept her due to her being raised by humans for over five months,” Noonto said.
“She would have had difficulty adapting to the wild elephant behavior and been pushed away.”
As Chabakeaw’s caretakers plan her future, another attempt to reintroduce her to the wild may not be viable.
Watch the video below: