Posted on 3 August 2023
After giving birth to a newborn calf, an elephant persists in getting its newborn to stand, leading to a heartwarming sighting.
Seasoned field guide, Brett Marneweck, was witness to the sighting and fortunately had his camera rolling to share with Latest Sightings.Â
‘We headed out on our afternoon safari, planning to have our sundowner overlooking a nearby dam. We positioned ourselves on the dam’s wall and took in the scene of hippos and birds all going about their day. Little did he know that this moment would soon transform into something truly extraordinary,’ he told Latest Sightings.’
‘In the distance, something caught my eye—an elephant seemingly in distress. Curiosity piqued, I reached for my binoculars to get a closer look. Shocked and in awe, I realized it was an elephant giving birth!’
The vehicle kept its distance from the elephant so as to not add any additional stress to the elephant and understanding the sensitivity and rarity of the event.
‘The mother elephant then did something so strange; she turned and left. But she returned a few moments later, and that’s when I thought she might be a first-time mother. Her behaviour was a mix of nervousness, excitement, and curiosity.’
The mother kept trying to nudge the elephant ‘rather roughly,’ Brett added. ‘Her inexperience showed, but eventually, it was a heartwarming sight. The baby elephant finally stood, leaning against its mother for support.’
‘With persistence, the calf attempted to suckle. We knew it was time to leave the new family and their peaceful bonding. We wanted to give them the space they needed to nurture their connection without any interruptions.’
Watch this rare sighting below:
Featured image: screenshot
Follow us on social media for more travel news, inspiration, and guides. You can also tag us to be featured.Â
TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
