Watch Newborn Baby Elephant in South Africa
A couple of visitors to a South African nature reserve felt “blessed” recently with the incredible once-in-a-lifetime viewing of a newborn baby elephant. Richard and Magdalene Deetlefs made the rare sighting whilst on safari in KwaZulu-Natal. They estimate the calf was just minutes old and filmed it “as it tries to find its bearing”. (It […]
A couple of visitors to a South African nature reserve felt “blessed” recently with the incredible once-in-a-lifetime viewing of a newborn baby elephant.
Richard and Magdalene Deetlefs made the rare sighting whilst on safari in KwaZulu-Natal. They estimate the calf was just minutes old and filmed it “as it tries to find its bearing”. (It was so new, remnants of its afterbirth were still visible.)
Magdalene said: “Nature at her best. So privileged to witness this.”
Elephants – the largest living land animal – usually weigh around 100kg at birth and stand about three feet tall. According to About.com, a newborn can’t see very well but can recognise its mom by touch, scent and sound.
After the 22-month gestation (!), a herd usually creates a circle around the mother (cow) to protect her and the baby… and in the video the mom and another elephant can be seen protecting the baby and helping it stand and stay standing.