Baby elephant sleeping in its mum embrace after being reunited with mum has moved thousands on social media.
The calf had been rescued by staff of the Manambolly forest range in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR), in Tamil Nadu State, southern India, on 29th December, after it was found wandering lost and alone.
Field staff launched an immediate search for its herd and were able to trace it some two miles away with the help of drones.
After bathing the baby elephant and covering it in mud to minimise human scent, they brought it to the area and set it free close to the herd.

The calf successfully reunited with its mother and later spotted with the herd of 10 elephants.
ATR authorities then assigned four teams to continue monitoring both the calf and the herd.
While monitoring, the elephant trackers came across the incredible sight of the young calf sleeping in its mother’s arms in the middle of a tea plantation near Valparai, on the afternoon 2nd January.
Adorable Newborn Elephant Calf Sticks Close To Mum
Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Climate Change and Forest, Tamil Nadu, later shared the photo “worth a million words” on X, formerly Twitter, and it instantly captured users’ hearts.
One X user named ‘Shrinivas Paraddi’ commented: “A baby elephant sleeping peacefully with its mother – a heartwarming reminder of the gentle, strong bond in the animal kingdom.”

User ‘Kunal Jain’ wrote: “This one is very comforting to even watch! I could imagine how that calf must be feeling! Great work happening in india . Kudos.”
And ‘Sathish’ said: “I wish I could be in the forest department to see all these amazing things. Life is beautiful with nature’s nest.”
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Story By: Simona Kitanovska, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Asia Wire Report
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