The animal kingdom is one of the most beautiful things Earth has. But nothing is perfect, and the animal world has also its own cruel side that’s hard to understand.
In this story, people were in shock to see an Elephant mom trying to kill her newborn baby. Thankfully, the staff intervened before it was too late.
Elephants grow in their mother’s womb for 22 months before coming out to the world. They’re born blind at first, so the bond between mother and her baby is the most important thing for the baby’s survival.
Wehn Zhuang Zhuang was born at Shendiashan Wild Animal Natural Reserve in China. He got bitten and kicked by his own mother. He was facing an immense danger staying with her, but seperating the two also caused him a vast grief – the baby elephant cried for five hours.
When the baby elephant was born in 2013, his mom rejected him immediately after delivery.
Staff at the reserve thought it was an accident so removed the baby to treat him for his injuries. When they returned Zhuang Zhuang his mom tried to kill him again, forcing staff to permanently remove him from his mom.
Despite hours of comfort from staff baby Zhuang Zhuang was completely heartbroken.
“The calf was very upset and he was crying for five hours before he could be consoled. He couldn’t bear to be parted from his mother and it was his mother who was trying to kill him,” an employee said, according to Shared.com.
Elephants stay in a close-knit herd where they all work together to protect their young and each other. It’s crucial that they are part of a family group as they need intimacy and company.
Frightening experience
The babies are always cared for by the females of the group and not just the mother but other female elephants will help. It seems this is how young females learn how to look after baby elephants.
According to Ian Redmond, wildlife consultant with the Born Free Foundation and elephant expert, giving birth can be a frightening experience for some elephants as they “don’t work on instinct.”
“In captive elephants it is common for them not to know about looking after their young,” he told BBC News.
Thankfully Zhuang Zhuang survived his distressing ordeal and was adopted by the keeper who saved his life.
What a distressing ordeal for this poor baby elephant. I’m so glad this story ended well for Zhuang Zhuang.
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