After becoming separated from its herd a “four to five months old” (1) elephant calf was recently reunited with its mother as an aerial photograph attests. The touching moment was captured as mama and baby elephant napped and snuggled together after the ordeal as if to say ‘I’ll never let you go” again.

This loving embrace followed an unsettling 72 hours for the little elephant found wandering about in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu, India. Fortunately, park rangers deployed drones in their efforts to locate the little elephant’s herd that was only 2.5 miles away. 

Lost baby Indian elephant is escorted by rangers in Reserve. Source (2)

On the way to reunite baby elephant with its herd. Source (2)

“Before releasing the baby elephant it was washed and mud was applied to remove any human input” Source (2)

Baby elephant crossing the river with assistance from rangers. Source (2)

Reunited with the herd: baby elephant upper left hand corner behind mama. Source (2)

Mama elephant and her baby snuggling. “I’ll never let you go” Source (2)

Mama elephant and her baby snuggling. “I’ll never let you go” Source (2)

Images: from “Tamil Nadu: Baby elephant reunites with mother, herd traced using drones” cc video by The News Minute (2)

Sources: 

(1) Daily Mail “I’ll never forget this! Mother elephant cuddles her calf with her trunk as they are reunited three days after the young animal was separated from the herd and got lost” by James Reynolds  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12925651/mother-elephant-cuddles-calf-tamil-nadu-india.html

(2) “Tamil Nadu: Baby elephant reunites with mother, herd traced using drones” cc video by The News Minute    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Tamil+Nadu%3A+Baby+elephant+reunites+with+mother%2C+herd+traced+using+drones+Creative+Commons

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Mama elephant and her baby snuggling. “I’ll never let you go” Source (2)