This is a baby elephant’s story that starts out sad, but ends up being truly heartfelt with an unlikely friendship. Ellie the elephant was two weeks old when he was rejected by it’s herd and critically ill with a low chance of survival. He was then taken to rehabilitate at the Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage where they are known for taking in rhinos afflicted by the poaching crisis in Africa.
Ellie’s story only gets better. He began to feel alive again thanks to the sanctuary staff and Duma, a former service and sniffer dog. Thanks to Duma, Ellie is able to feel like he is loved. Their unlikely friendship shows how compassionate animals are to each other, despite color, size, and species — which we can definitely learn from. There was no denying the incredible bond that Ellie and Duma formed from the moment they met. Karen Trendler, the sanctuary’s rehabilitation and crisis response expert stated, “we introduced Ellie and Duma at the sand pile and it immediately cheered the elephant up.”
In Ellie’s future, he will either enter an existing herd or a new herd made up of other orphaned elephants. No matter what, Ellie’s recovery story will be remembered!
Watch Ellie’s story here:
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