In Kenya, drought has plunged the country into a relentless battle with unforeseen challenges that seem to arise daily.
However, a recent event stood out among the rest, offering a glimmer of hope amidst adversity.
The incident began when a fully grown elephant unexpectedly emerged from the bushes. This sudden appearance relieved a team that had been attending to a sick baby elephant, as it signaled the return of the baby elephant’s mother.
Although the team was glad to see the family reunited, they quickly withdrew to avoid upsetting the protective mother, who was not pleased to find strangers near her calf.
As the mother elephant reconnected with her calf, she was accompanied by a subadult elephant, likely an older sibling.
This additional support seemed to boost the calf’s recovery, as it managed to stand up with the gentle encouragement of its mother. Shortly after, the family retreated into the wild, disappearing from sight.
The successful use of hydration serums played a crucial role in the calf’s recovery. Despite being weak and dehydrated, the calf responded positively to the treatments, regaining the strength to stand up and follow its mother.
Dr. Mijele, a veterinarian from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), remained optimistic about the calf’s progress, noting that it demonstrated a promising level of resilience for its ongoing recovery.
In many cases, drought-induced crisis leads elephant mothers to abandon their calves, leaving them to fend for themselves.
However, this time, the mother chose to stay by her calf’s side, offering support and protection.
