Unforgettable Moment: Witnessiпg The First Steps Of A Newborп Elephant

The baby elephant tumbled to the ground while taking its first steps in life. The little calf melted the hearts of animal lovers everywhere as it wobbled on its first steps.

This adorable moment was captured by Belgian photographer Caroline Deschuymere, while exploring the Mwinilunga Safaris campsite in Mana Pools, Zimbabwe. The photographer’s camera happened to capture the newborn elephant trying to steady itself outside the tent.

Perhaps because it was so recently born, the little one still didn’t know how to keep its balance and had to twist its trunk and flail its tail to avoid falling. However, the sky was not on its side; the newborn had to face its first stumble in life just as it was trying to take its initial steps. Meanwhile, the mother elephant seemed oblivious to her calf’s struggle and continued to nonchalantly sway her tail. Besides Caroline, no one noticed the baby elephant struggling to get up from the ground, trying to steady itself and keep moving forward, only to stumble and fall repeatedly. But gradually, the little one learned to balance itself and confidently walked alongside its mother.

“Usually, I would choose to film wild dogs or African lions because they are often active in the early morning. However, that morning I encountered so many adorable elephants, so I decided to make them the main subject,” she shared.

“It was also the time when the herd was gathering around the campsite to eat, and while I was happily observing, I suddenly noticed that their group was somewhat chaotic. At first, I didn’t realize what was causing the commotion. A few minutes later, I discovered that a mother elephant had just given birth nearby.”

“The calf spent over an hour learning how to stand on its four legs, but its legs were still a bit wobbly. It had to practice standing straight to succeed,” she continued.

“Then came the lesson in balancing. The adorable, clumsy appearance of the calf made me laugh continuously. Thanks to its self-learning efforts and the support of its herd, it eventually took its first steady steps on the ground.”