This heartwarming footage shows Khanyisa the cute albino elephant calf frolicking in her new surroundings after being rescued from a wire snare and suffering deep maggot-ridden wounds.
According to local media, little Khanyisa was rescued from the snare in January when she was just four months old and is currently recovering at the Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation and Development centre in the Kapama Private Game Reserve located in the north-eastern South African province of Mpumalanga.
Reports said the albino calf suffered serious wounds to her ears, cheeks and mouth and she struggled in the snare for several days, with the wire cutting deeper into her skin.
Her cuts were so deep that maggots had reportedly started to feast on her open wounds.
Over six weeks later, and after putting on 31 kilogrammes in weight, Khanyisa is recovering well at the elephant rehab centre.
Albino elephant Khanyisa and Solani Herman Khoza her friend and caregiver 
The albino baby elephant Khanyisa
She was first named Sunshine, but carers felt that the cute calf needed a more African sounding name to go with her fighting spirit.
A spokesperson for the Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation and Development centre said: “The odds of her survival have been stacked against her from birth, she was born as an albino, she then endured excruciating pain trapped in the jaws of a manmade snare and left to fight for her fragile life for an unknown amount of days.
“We can only try to comprehend the amount of pain she felt, how scared she felt, was her herd with her when it happened, was she alone?”
Local media said the elephant has impressed workers with her physical and mental recovery, helped by the centre’s resident comfort sheep Lammie.
When she has fully recovered, little Khanyisa will join the herd of other rescued elephants at the reserve.
The albino baby elephant Khanyisa 
The albino baby elephant Khanyisa
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Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder,  Agency: Central European News
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