Guided by love

Spending time in the bush you soon realise that there are a few sights and moments that can compare to the

bond between a mother elephant and her newborn calf. In this moment a tiny calf, only a few weeks old, unsure on its feet, was gently being guided down a hill by its mother. Something that can be described as ancient, powerful and deeply moving.

This young elephant enters a world fragile and unsteady, despite weighting over a hundred kilograms, and relies on its mother for several things, in this case balance. The terrain can be very unforgiving, even a small slope can feel like a mountain to the brand-new legs, but a mother’s presence can change everything. With the most careful nudges of her trunk and steady positioning of her legs and body, she will always offer the support her calf needs, almost as if she says ‘I’m here, don’t worry you are safe’ with every movement until the young calf is strong enough to handle the world on its own.

What makes this bond between mother and calf so beautiful is that it is not only instinct, it is emotion and the deepest love. These animals show the true definition of empathy towards each other, the slightest of touch

means more than we can comprehend. A mother’s love is not only patient, protective but also enduring. She is a teacher, guardian and a safe haven all in one.

In the bush, where survival is not always guaranteed, the love and tenderness shown by these animals stands out like sunlight shining through the trees. Watching this mother helping her calf, steering it down the hill – to me it was more than just a simple act of guidance, it was a reminder of the strength found in gentleness. The saying ‘gentle giants’ is one of the most accurate ways of describing these animals. They show love in its purest, most powerful form. In that quite moment sitting with that herd of elephants, we were not just witnessing wildlife, we were witnessing devotion.