Photographer Neal Cooper captured a moving scene in Chobe National Park, Botswana, where a mother elephant came to the aid of her calf that had fallen into a waterhole.
The young elephant had a playful moment in the waterhole but soon could not climb. Struggling to get free, the calf needed help.
In a remarkable display of maternal care, the mother elephant wrapped her trunk around her calf’s neck, trying to lift it out of the waterhole. She used her trunk to hoist the calf while supporting it with her hind legs.
Cooper remarked, “The young elephant is just a few weeks old, and the mother is diligently making sure the calf remains safe.”
This incident provided a lesson in rescue and gave the young elephant a valuable experience that will help it handle similar situations.
After a determined effort from the mother, the calf finally reached the shore. The young elephant and the rest of the herd continued their journey through Chobe National Park.
