Hey mama! Baby elephant ‘adopts’ bakkie as new mom

A MAD dash to save a baby elephant saw Addo Elephant Park rangers faced with an unusual challenge after his rescue – the calf thought the bakkie was its new mother and latched onto it.

SanParks spokeswoman Fayroush Ludick said it had taken careful guidance and a good dose of courage to reunite the little elephant with his real mother.

Ranger Michael Paxton said the weekend’s adventure had been one he would never forget.

Ludick said: “Paxton got a call from a guide at Gorah Lodge, a five-star private lodge in the park, saying there was a small elephant calf stuck in a ditch at Hapoor Dam.

“He and a group of rangers went to the main camp to collect some rope and other odds and ends as they were not sure what to expect.”

She said a herd of about 200 elephants had congregated at the dam.

Paxton said he could not see the calf at first, and the rangers had revved the bakkie’s engine, banged on the vehicle’s doors and shouted to try to disperse the herd. When the herd finally moved off towards the Spekbook tented camp, the rangers knew they only had a few minutes to effect the rescue before the mother returned to her baby.

Two staff members were told to keep watch.

Ludick said: “The rangers drove up to the edge of the wallow and Paxton and [park dog handler] Vusumsi Nxamleko jumped into the water.

“Their first try to pull the elephant out was unsuccessful.

“The second went better as more people had come to help.

“Once the calf was out, the next challenge was to reunite the calf with its mother.”

After being rescued, the elephant calf latched onto the rangers’ bakkie and started following it.

“Realising the mother was nowhere to be found as all the elephants had moved off to Spekboom, the calf was loaded onto the bakkie, which drove towards Spekboom to cut the herd off and drop the calf there,” Ludick said.

“The calf was off-loaded on the game paths the elephants were using, and the rangers then drove away quickly.”

However, when they looked back, they saw “the little chap come wobbling around the corner looking for its new ‘mother’ [the bakkie].”

Paxton then decided to walk back with the baby to make sure he found his real mother.

“They continued up the road until the rangers on the bakkie said they could see lots of elephants around the corner, moving towards the road,” Ludick said.

“Paxton slowed down a bit and let the little elephant walk on.

“At that point, Paxton decided to take a chance and run back around the corner.

“A few seconds later, there was a lot of trumpeting and Paxton went back to see what was happening.

“A large cow had the calf between her front legs, with her trunk wrapped around it. They then disappeared into the bush.”

Paxton said it was a real happy ending for the little elephant.

The little chap came wobbling around the corner looking for its new ‘mother’