There’s no guarantee for elephants that they will be accepted by their herd. It doesn’t happen often, but every once in awhile, for whatever reason, a baby elephant will be rejected by their family and left to fend for themselves.
Ellie, the elephant in the video above, found himself in this upsetting situation not long after he was born. He was sick and injured when he was found by the very people who would help him through his darker times.
Karen Trendler and the staff at Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage in South Africa brought Ellie to the sanctuary for rehabilitation. It took months to heal the elephant’s body from several health issues. His heart took a while longer.
Once Ellie’s body was healthy, Trendler introduced him to the sanctuary’s pet dog, Duma. The two bonded instantly, and it was then that Ellie really began to shine. It seems the company of the dog inspires Ellie to be more outgoing, loving, and fun.
Watch Ellie’s touching rescue and rehabilitation sory in the video above! What did you think? Leave us a comment, we’d love to hear from you!
