With the help of Mom, the tiny thing persevered until it was standing awkwardly on all fours. It then carefully began to walk forwards, no doubt touching the hearts of game viewers.
These first steps were all made possible with the help of the mother elephant. She remained supportive of the newborn elephant, eventually helping it onto its feet using the tender gestures of her trunk.
However, before this moment, a lot of ‘trial and error’ ensued, with the little one getting up and then falling down again.
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Calves are usually born after an extraordinary 22-month pregnancy. This is the longest pregnancy of any land mammal! When they arrive, they weigh about 100kg.
However, despite their size, they are fragile and unsteady at first, as this one was.
Mother attempts to help newborn onto its feet
A newborn elephant will usually attempt to stand, and soon after walk, within just minutes of birth.
This one leaned against its mother’s trunk for support and balance.
Many times, it succeeded in standing to its feet. However, initially this victory was fleeting and it soon fell back down into the grass.
The mother remained close to the calf. Her trunk hovered near the calf’s body, guiding and reassuring it.
Just the act of standing took a lot of effort, however, the elephant calf persevered. It showed tremendous effort and courage in getting up on shaky legs, after falling into the dust and grass, again and again.
This determination in the calf was spurred on by an even more determined mother. She was to hear nothing of giving up!
She understood the importance that walking held for her newborn and did everything in her strength to guide the tiny elephant.
What ensued was some super cute moments, and poignant moments between Mom and calf.
The elephant mother used her trunk as a human mother might use her arms, demonstrating extreme compassion and patience. Her love for her infant was evident in every gesture.
The persistence shown by the mother and calf soon paid off and the calf eventually stood. However, it didn’t stop there. On trembling limbs, it moved forwards, one uncertain step after the next.
Shaky steps will soon become confident
While the calf’s first steps were anything but confident, within a day, newborn elephants are usually able to walk more confidently, sticking closely to their mother’s side.
While this tiny elephant might have not gotten it perfect straight away, confident walking would soon ensue… with some practice, of course.
For baby elephants, what begins with trembling steps soon becomes a steady pace, and before long, calves can even trot after their mother, learning the paths of the herd and the rhythm of elephant life.
These first steps are vital. Unlike many animals which can lie hidden while they gain strength, elephant calves must be mobile almost immediately to keep up with the herd.
Predators like lions and hyenas pose a real danger, so walking within hours of birth is a survival skill.
