African elephants in a savanna landscape with dry grass and sparse vegetation during late summer or early autumn, under bright daytime light. 30:39
HERD Elephant Orphanage South Africa channel icon HERD Elephant Orphanage South AfricaOriginal creator 590K views Save

A baby elephant's sprint to her herd of moms

Before Khanyisa can join her herd for the day, she has a gate to get through. The orphaned baby African elephant is in a hurry. more

Khanyisa lives at the HERD Elephant Orphanage in South Africa, which rescued her when she was just a baby. She has been settling in slowly ever since, and the staff have spent that time teaching her about love, protection and trust.

She doesn't leave without a goodbye. She stops for a gentle touch with a friend and works at the gate until it opens. Then she's off, running full tilt toward the big elephants.

African elephants in a savanna landscape with dry grass and sparse vegetation during late summer or early autumn, under bright daytime light. The headline runs in white letters across the lower third.Save
Before Khanyisa can join her herd for the day, she has a gate to get through.

The herd takes her in without any fuss. The elephants touch each other first thing, a quick hello all around, and Khanyisa is never left on her own. Two or three of the grown females always stay close, so one small orphan ends up with several moms.

The big ones are careful with her in small ways too. At one point an older elephant nudges the little one up onto the road, where the footing is better. It's a tiny kindness from an animal many times her size.

An elephant with tusks stands among dry trees and brush in bright sunlight. A headline runs in white letters across the lower third.Save
One of the grown elephants in Khanyisa's herd stands among the dry trees.

Much of the outing is about food. Khanyisa learns by sticking close to the grown-ups, who show her what to eat and how to get at it. One of the big elephants even uses a leg to get at a shrub.

An elephant stands in tall grass with its trunk raised, near trees under a clear blue sky. A headline runs in white letters across the lower third.Save
Out with the herd, an elephant lifts its trunk in the tall grass near the trees.

It's slow and quiet out there. Listen closely and there's grass being munched and a low rumble now and then. Late in the outing, one elephant leans into a tree for a head rub while another stands close by.

An elephant rubs its head against a tree trunk while another elephant stands nearby in dry grass. A headline runs in white letters across the lower third.Save
Late in the outing, one elephant rubs its head on a tree while another stays close.

Khanyisa started out as a rescued baby with no family at all. Now she starts the day at a run, straight into the middle of one.

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