When a baby elephant fell over while trying to climb out of a small ditch at Switzerland’s Zoo Zurich, two adults rushed over within a few seconds to help. Though it’s not clear from the video whether the baby’s mother is one of the adults that come to its aid, elephants are known to have tight bonds with herd members outside their immediate family.
Mother and calf share a special connection, but adults have been known to watch over little ones that aren’t theirs. Other members of the clan may act as babysitters, a practice that helps young female elephants for motherhood. Zoo Zurich’s elephant facility was named for the Kaeng Krachan National Park in Thailand, where the Swiss zoo supports conservation for Asiatic Elephants.
