An inspiring demonstration of trust between Jabu, an elephant, and his keeper has been beautifully captured on video, showcasing the gentle giant’s patience and cooperation during a routine medical procedure at the Elephant Rescue Center in Botswana.
The video shows Jabu obediently following his keeper’s commands, showing little to no distress while receiving treatment for an eye condition.
The sight of Jabu striding across the arid landscape towards his human friend sets the scene. With a gentle touch on the leg and a calm command, “Jabu, lie down,” the keeper persuades the elephant to lie down.
Jabu follows suit without hesitation, bending his back legs, stretching his front legs, and settling onto his side.
The astonishing footage was recorded at the Elephant Rescue Centre in Botswana as the keeper raises his hand and places it on the mammal’s leg before calmly saying: ‘Jabu, lie down.’
The keeper praises Jabu and tosses him a handful of food to reward his cooperation. Next, he examines Jabu’s eye, hopeful, “I think that’s starting to look a little bit better.” With a small white bottle of antibiotic drops in hand, he leans closer to Jabu.
Despite the annoying flies buzzing around, Jabu patiently waits as his keeper applies the necessary ointment.
The true depth of their bond is visible when the keeper asks Jabu to stay, then proceeds to hold open the elephant’s eyelid to apply for the medicine better.
There is a brief pause before the elephant does exactly as he is asked and bends his back legs to fold down onto the ground.
His eyelid reveals redness and irritation, but Jabu remains calm throughout. As the treatment concludes, Jabu is rewarded with additional treats and kind words from both his keeper and the onlooking cameraperson.
Initially filmed in December, the video resurfaced recently, bringing renewed attention to Jabu’s story.
As part of the Living with Elephants Foundation, the Elephant Rescue Center identified Jabu’s watery eye. It began a regimen of three antibiotic doses per day.
The conservation worker says ‘good boy’ and throws a handful of food into Jabu’s mouth as a reward.
The keeper pulls out a small white bottle of antibiotic drops and leans in closer. Jabu sighs heavily and blinks as flies continue to buzz around his face.
Jabu, the herd’s bull, was rescued from Kruger National Park in South Africa during a culling operation. Now aged 31, he towers over 11.4 feet tall and weighs a staggering 5.5 tons.
Besides the eye infection, Jabu has also been dealing with a wrist injury and osteoarthritis following a confrontation with a wild bull in 2016.
Fans of Jabu and his herd can look forward to seeing more of their lives in the upcoming Animal Planet TV series, “Dodo Heroes,” set to air in June.
It becomes clear that Jabu’s eye is red and irritated as the keeper repeatedly squeezes the liquid under the elephant’s eyelids.
The keeper pats Jabu’s trunk and begins to walk away before telling him that he can now get up. The elephant heaves himself to his feet, and the video ends shortly afterwards.