Emotional Moment: Baby Elephant Weeps Beside Its Mother’s Lifeless Body

Recently at Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve, heartbreaking images captured the moment a baby elephant clung to and mourned over the body of its dead mother.

The 10-month-old calf, named Roi, stood beside his mother’s body with a sorrowful face and drooping eyes. Roi’s mother had been killed when a group of illegal poachers infiltrated the park and slaughtered the innocent elephant.

For hours, Roi repeatedly used his trunk to nudge his mother, desperately trying to wake her.

But all Roi received in return was despair and pain, for his mother would never wake again.

Tears welled in Roi’s eyes as he grieved a loss far too great for such a young creature to bear.

Just 24 hours earlier, Roi and his mother had been happily playing together.

After his mother’s death, Roi sought comfort among another herd, but the orphaned calf soon faced the harsh challenge of surviving without his mother’s milk.

Upon learning this, wildlife experts transferred Roi to an animal rescue center within Nairobi National Park, where he could receive proper care.

Roi was lifted into a helicopter and flown to his new home.

Rob Brandford, the director of the center, shared: “Roi is healthier now, but he is still traumatized by the loss of his mother. Our staff feed him milk and care for him, but the new environment has made him wary of humans. Only when he meets other orphaned elephants does Roi feel more at ease and secure.”

At the sanctuary, older elephants showed Roi affection and care. Over time, surrounded by his new companions, Roi gradually adapted to his new life. Today, he has grown more independent and confident.

A bright light now shines in Roi’s eyes.

Sadly, elephant poaching for ivory remains rampant across Africa. Statistics estimate that every 15 minutes, one elephant is killed for its tusks.