Being separated from your mother is so distressing and getting lost, alone in nowhere is even worse. But this baby elephant got so lucky she landed in a South African living room.
In one of Africa’s game reserves, staff found themselves in the middle of an unusual problem after they found a 10-day-old elephant in their garden at Zululand, South Africa.
Chef Tom Diamini saw the baby elephant (believed to have traveled around 30 miles) in their garden at Thula Thula Private Game Reserve on Tuesday night.
The 10-day-old elephant was named Tom after the ranch’s chef who first discovered her.
Mrs. Francois Maldy Anthony, owner of the ranch, welcomed the unexpected visitor into their living room.
Having wandered alone for miles, Tom seemed so distressed, hungry and tired.
She leaned her trunk on one of the sofas in the living room to have some rest.
They made sure that Tom had food and water while other rangers were tracking down her mother.
Game rangers Shereen Bond and David Bozas feed the distressed baby elephant in an attempt to calm it down.
They also fed her with milk at the ranch’s kitchen.
Tom was left to freely roam around the living room, with staff trying not to have too much contact with the animal in fear that her mother might reject her.
But the charming little guest seemed too hard to resist.
Tom the baby elephant spent time and got acquainted with Tom the chef.
And time finally came when Tom’s mother was rescued from a neighboring reserve and was delighted to be reunited with her.
Mrs. Anthony, who has owned the reserve for 15 years, said she has never experienced anything like this and was surprised upon learning that the baby was the calf of an elephant her husband had rescued several years earlier.
Though baby elephant Tom was only with them for a few hours, for Francoise and her staff the experience was magical.
“The important thing is she is back with her mother and herd and can now continue with them – unless she decides to wander off again.”