He kept poking her with his trunk — but finally people came to save him.
After an elephant family fell into a 14-foot deep construction pit in India, the 3-month-old calf couldn’t understand why his mom wouldn’t wake up, even though he kept nudging her with his little trunk.
By the time rescuers arrived to take him away, his mother was unconscious. Even though they tried to revive her, she shortly died of her injuries.
“This calf underwent a traumatic time before being brought to the International Fund for Animal Welfare-Wildlife Trust of India (IFAW-WTI) Wildlife Rescue Center in the northeastern state of Assam, India,” Kerry Branon, spokesperson for IFAW, told The Dodo.
Rescuers named the calf Ghoramara – and they are doing everything they can to make him feel safe, including introducing him to a new friend.
Burhee, another rescued calf at the center, is about the same age as Ghoramara. The bond between the calves was almost instantaneous.
Now they live in the same area together and are doted upon by Dr. Panjit Basumatary, their veterinarian, who dresses them in their customized socks to keep their legs warm and covers them with special blankets to keep them snug in the cooler night air.
“They get along well together,” Branon said. “Both have their formula feeds together and enjoy grazing.”
And this pair of friends is about to meet even more young elephants – seven of them – who understand what it’s like to have a hard time at such a young age.
“The duo will be slowly be introduced to the other elephants who have already formed a small herd and go for their wild walks in the adjoining reserve forest,” Branon said.
To learn how you can help IFAW save more animals like Ghoramara and his friends, click here.
