The short video showing the calm but quick response from both the mother and aunt elephants during the incident has touched many a viewer’s heart around the world, prompting coverage from international media outlets including the Daily Mail and the Sun. (Image: Youtube)
SEOUL, June 20 (Korea Bizwire) – A video of elephants saving one of their young has gone viral on the internet. The clip, which captures the rare moment two resourceful adult elephants came to the rescue of a helplessly drowning calf in a pool at the Grand Park Zoo in Seoul, has garnered over 550,000 views on YouTube.
The heart-touching video footage begins with an elephant calf falling into the water, which is then seen visibly struggling to stay afloat.
Soon after the mother elephant ‘Sugella’ tries to pull her baby out of the water, but to no avail, she and another elder elephant are then seen hurrying towards the shallow end of the pool together, whisking the baby out of the water and onto the ground to safety.
Another elephant separated from the others by what looks to be a fence appears to be visibly upset while walking to and fro during the commotion.
The short video showing the calm but quick response from both the mother and aunt elephants during the incident has touched many a viewer’s heart around the world, prompting coverage from international media outlets including the Daily Mail and the Sun.
Elephants are known as social animals that live in groups, particularly with relatives on the maternal side of the family.
Kima, the 36-year-old elephant who rushed to assist the mother in rescuing her infant, was also an aunt to the infant.
According to the Grand Park Zoo officials, the calf has been taught how to swim by its aunt and is living well with its mother.
The elephant calf born last June that is at the center of the attention, named Heemangi, which is similar to the sound of the word ‘hope’ in Korean, is an Asian elephant, a breed that is currently facing extinction.
Hyunsu Yim (hyunsu@koreabizwire.com)
