We were still watching the herd of elephants calmly going about their business on the shores of the dam at Tlopi Tented Camp in Marakele National Park on Marilize’s birthday, when suddenly there was a tremendous uproar in the herd.
Cows were trumpeting in panic and rushing to a specific spot, while one particular youngster was screaming blue murder and running away from the same place as quickly as the grown-ups were approaching.
It quickly became apparent that a tiny baby had fallen down a small embankment and into the mud at the edge of the pool, struggling to get up. Within seconds the adult cows were lending either a helping foot or trunk and the baby was lifted to safety.
While we didn’t see how the baby ended up in the mud to begin with, from their reaction to the youngster that fled the scene earlier, and who was still screeching to high heaven but now circled back to the group of cows where they were soothing the upset baby, it was rather clear who the adult elephants thought carried the blame for the incident!
DeWetsWild 
Wat ‘n ongelooflike ervaring vir julle Dries! Dit was ongelloflik om te sien hoe hulle bymekaar gestaan het om die baba te help! Ver precious! ( Jammer ek is so agter met blog lees!)
Ons waardeer elke draai wat jy hier kom maak, Aletta! Hierdie was beslis n besonderse ervaring en ons glimlag nou nog breed as ons daaraan dink.
Fantasies!
Their sense of togetherness is what the world needs more than ever right now ! Ahh I love this . Just recently learned that elephants are the only animal that can die over heartbreak 😢
Having had so many opportunities to watch their social interactions, including this scene, it does not surprise me at all that they can experience such sorrow! Welcome here, Consciouskizz.
I appreciate the open arms and yes I very much agree . It’s amazing what these animals can feel and do ,but there aren’t enough people who take the time to want to understand them . We’d rather benefit from their physical statutes, overlooking the true essence of the animals that we coexist with .
We need more people like you🙌🏽✨💕
You are very kind, thank you!
Thank you for sharing this. It is so beautiful
Glad you enjoyed it so, and welcome here!
Cannot describe that sound to anyone! Glad the baby made it back out safely.
Hard to imagine such a high pitched sound coming from something that big! Then again, it happens in the opera too! 😉
Hahaha a private opera show! It’s always so fascinating.
How wonderful to be able to document this incident with your and Joubert’s photos. Incredible to see them working so cooperatively and carefully. The stress in their body language is evident and then once the baby is safe they seem so happy – some of them even appear to be smiling 🙂 What a marvelous rescue to witness.
It really was an incredible scene, Carol. We really count ourselves blessed to have been in the right place at the right time to be able to experience the sight – and sounds – of the herd working together to save their smallest member.
Olifante is sulke sorgsame diere. Wat ‘n wonderlike ding om te aanskou hoe die baba gered word. Pragtige foto’s! Joubert raak nou ‘n kranige fotograaf, Dries!
Baie dankie, Dina, en lekker om jou weer hier te sien! Hierdie was n wonderlike belewenis en maak mens sommer weer van voor af bewus hoe spesiaal olifante regtig is.
Ja-Nee, Joubert raak werklik goed agter die kamera en een van die dae kan ek myne maar wegpak. EN jy moet sien hoe pragtig hy kan skets; as ek hom nie self sien sit en teken nie sou ek hom verdink dat hy tekeninge of fotos natrek.
Dis wonderlik om mens se kind te sien ontwikkel met sy spesiale talente. Jy mag maar trots wees!
Dit is n absolute voorreg!
Aren’t elephants simply amazing beings. What a dramatic scene to experience first-hand.
Scenes like this really brings home just how intelligent and caring they are!
Wow! This is amazingly similar to an incident I saw in one of the elephant documentaries I watched last week. Like this incident, a calf got stuck in the mud and a group rescue ensued. That incident also turned out well.
That’s exactly what we said to each other as the scene was unfolding, John – this is the kind of thing reserved for documentaries on television!
What an amazing rescue scene to witness Dries, the adults work so well together and I’m so glad they got the baby elephant back on dry land again!
The way in which they coordinated their efforts really was amazing to see, Xenia!
Mother and aunts rushing in! Such relief that it all ended well.
With such dedication to their cause there was never any doubt in our minds that the story would have a happy ending.
I have such love and admiration for elephants. Their intelligence and commitment to the family unit is awe-inspiring. How lucky were you to witness this remarkable incident, and how lucky are we that you chronicled it in photos for us to see as well!
It’s one of those things that you immediately realise how incredibly lucky you are to see the moment it plays out in front of you. We’re grateful we were blessed to be there at that time.
What a scene to witness….
One we won’t easily forget, Sue. That’s for sure.
😊
Great pictures and story Dries! Happy ending! Congrats to your son Joubert too for the excellent pictures he took!
Much appreciated, Danie!
Wat ń gesig om te kon aanskou, de Wet! Vir my is daar niks mooier as ń klein olifantjie nie.
Om n trop olifante dop te hou kan mens se aandag fassineer vir ure!
Olifante bly maar wonderlike diere. Hul weet van omgee en om mekaar te help as daar nood is. Was seker n belewenis om alles te sien gebeur.
Ek dink nie ons sal hierdie toneel vinnig vergeet nie, Ineke!
Ek het jare terug in Etosha ook ‘n olifant beskerming gesien. Een groep meer jong manlike olifante het by windpomp en dam net rond gestaan. ‘n Ander trop met groot leier vooraan en ‘n hel bondel koeie en kleintjies agter hom. Hy het flappende ore nade gegaan. Die baba-oppassers het al die klein olifantjie omsingel en veilig gehou totdat die klomp “kwaaddoeners” weggejaag was. Ons het hoog in ‘n bus gesit en kon alles baie mooi sien. Het fotos geneem maar dis skyfies en was in 1977.
Nog een van daardie ongelooflike belewenisse waarvan mens so dikwels oor olifante hoor! Dankie dat jy vertel het, Ineke. Jou herinneringe daaraan is tien-teen-een nog skerper as wat die skyfies na soveel jare is.
Is so,. Dis ondervindings soos die wat mens aan die gang hou. Sê nog altyd jy kan alles verloor maar nie jou mooi herinneringe bly.
Die herinneringe aan gelukkige tye saam op mooi plekke en omring deur interessanthede is meer werd as goud en diamante!
Beslis, onbetaalbaar.
Amazing how they cared so much to rescue the little one. 😊
The way they immediately mounted a rescue effort really was amazing, and beautiful to see them comfort and protect the little one after his ordeal.
Thank you for sharing your views of this incredible incident, de Wets. It boggles the mind to think how these giant creatures work together to rescue a little one in distress like this.
Their concern for and dedication to their little family member was amazing to see!
What a wonderful story in (mostly) photos! ❤️
Who doesn’t like a happy ending!?
I am relieved to know and to see the little one was rescued. Animals are amazing.
It was a thrilling scene to witness!
This is another wonderful example of nature at work! We once witnessed a similar incident at Kruger and were in awe of the group effort made – as well as the soothing and caring you have aptly described and illustrated so well. This is a scene to remember!
I doubt we’ll ever forget this, Anne, and we’re grateful to have had a front-row seat!
He was a very little one! Mama’s to the rescue–thankfully!
Their dedication to family is amazing!
I’m so glad that they rescued the baby elephant! You have covered the whole struggle like a professional and the talented secretary, Joubert. What a moment of suspense and anguish! Thank you D. for the wonderful post. 🙂
Thank you for your ever positive contributions, H.J!