Earlier this month in Assam, India, a herd of wild elephants hurried past a village on their way back to the forest. In the rush, tragedy struck: an 8-week-old calf was accidentally left behind.
Alone and frightened, the tiny elephant searched desperately for comfort. With no mother in sight, he did something extraordinary — he turned to nearby people for help.
Fortunately, his plea did not go unanswered.
Wildlife Trust of India’s Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC), along with local officials, quickly arrived to assess the situation.
Their goal was clear: reunite the calf with his worried mother.
Rescuers first checked the baby’s health, then traced the herd’s path through the forest.
To give the little one the best chance at a safe reunion, they gently lifted him into a truck and transported him closer to where his family was last seen.
At a forest clearing, the team prepared the calf for the emotional moment ahead. They coated him with elephant dung to hide any lingering human scent and then guided him forward, hoping his mother was near.
The wait didn’t last long.
“Soon we heard the rumbles coming from the forest and allowed the captive elephants to take the lead,” said Dr. Bhaskar Choudhury, head veterinarian at CWRC. “The female, an 8.5-foot-tall individual, emerged from the woods and came to a halt before the calf. She paused briefly, and then the two walked back into the forest together.”
The heartwarming reunion was captured on video — a powerful reminder of the bond between mother and child.
Thanks to the quick action of rescuers, the calf’s story ended in joy rather than heartbreak. And he is just one of thousands of animals given a second chance by CWRC.
Since its founding in 2002, the organization has rehabilitated more than 5,900 wild animals, many through reunions just like this one.
To learn more about the Wildlife Trust of India, visit their website here.
