African elephants in a savanna, juvenile elephant with dark gray coat and mud spots, dry season midday light. 10:38
HERD Elephant Orphanage South Africa channel icon HERD Elephant Orphanage South AfricaOriginal creator 81K views Save

Baby elephant gets a trunk hug at the waterhole

Down at the waterhole, the herd is in no hurry. Big Fish soaks in the pool, and a baby elephant named Khanyisa splashes in the shallows. more

These are the elephants of HERD, an elephant orphanage in South Africa, and on this dry, sunny day the whole herd is at ease. Khanyisa plays in and around the group, never far from the older elephants.

Three elephants stand close together in dry grassland under a clear sky. A headline runs in white letters across the lower third.Save
Out on the dry grass, the elephants of the herd stay close to one another.

In the water, she is in her element. One fan calls her a little fish, and it fits. She splashes and plays while the grown-ups wade in around her.

The real Fish is a great deal bigger. He's one of the giants of the herd, and he spends his time at the pool doing as little as possible, lying in the water and soaking. Mambo strides around the herd and keeps an eye on everyone.

Then Khanyisa finds a ledge. It's a tricky climb for a calf her size, and she tries to go up it anyway.

Kumbura steps in. She's Khanyisa's allomother, an older female who helps raise her, and she gently wraps her trunk around the little one and keeps her off the ledge. It's a hug and a safety rail at the same time.

African elephants in a savanna, juvenile elephant with dark gray coat and mud spots, dry season midday light. The headline runs in white letters across the lower third.Save
Down at the waterhole, the herd is in no hurry.

Khanyisa grows a little bolder all the time. With Kumbura around, she can afford to be.

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