When we are young, life can be difficult and there are certain things that we have to deal with that doesn’t always make life easy. Through it all, however, we often look to the older individuals that are role models in our lives, including our mother. She will help us to get through some of the rough spots in our life and give us the necessary guidance to help us from day-to-day. Without our mothers, we would have a difficult time.
As it turns out, this is not only true of humans but even little ones in the animal kingdom are not cared for in the proper way. Sometimes, baby animals are separated from their mothers for a wide variety of reasons and when that is the case, they may have to contend for themselves. The animal kingdom can be rather cruel, however, and not all little ones are going to make it when they don’t have a strong parental role model to guide and protect them. That was the case for this little elephant, who was struggling without a mother in the wild.
The elephant is Dok Geaw and he is about one year and nine months old. He was in the wild all on his own but was rescued by an animal sanctuary.
Elephant Nature Park considers them to be an “elephant rescue and rehabilitation center in Northern Thailand where you can volunteer and visit to help elephants, dogs, and cats.” They help to provide sanctuary for endangered species, restore the rain forest and educate visitors.
Dok was alone without a mother and he was also injured. In the animal kingdom, that is a very difficult way to get your start. Elephant Nature Park explains that “during their early years the calf follows the mother everywhere learning invaluable survival lessons from her and the rest of her herd.”
It must’ve been a frightening issue to be in the wild without a mother. He didn’t know what was taking place and he couldn’t turn to anyone for guidance. He may even have been bullied by other animals because he didn’t have a mother to defend him.
Dok would probably grow up to be depressed but when workers found him, they took him to the sanctuary. It seemed as if the other elephants at the sanctuary knew what was taking place and they did something surprising.
The herd of elephants came over to say hello to the new addition. They went straight to his confined area and showed him some affection.
The little baby elephant saw them before they arrived and he began crying out to them. The other elephants knew where he was and what he needed.
Each of the elephants began sticking their trunks through the gate and showed him all of the affection they could. He even stuck his trunk back out to them in a most adorable way.
It wasn’t long before Dok seemed to be happy in his new surroundings and with his new herd.
Even though he was now in friendlier surroundings, he would still have some difficulty. Elephants follow a matriarchy, with a female taking the lead of the pack. Elephant Voices says “No individual or individual personality has more impact on family structure and fortunes than the matriarch, or female leader, of an elephant family.”
Dok has new friends but he will still miss some of the strong female leadership from his mother. He may end up adopting a female from the herd as a mother or he may be raised by the entire herd.
Elephants get direction from their entire family so anything is possible.
You can see more of the greeting in this touching video:
Source: Animal Channel
