The magic of a newborn elephant taking its initial, wobbly steps before a gentle tumble has been beautifully captured in the wild.
When she witnessed this precious moment, Belgian wildlife photographer Caroline Deschuymere found herself at Mwinilunga Safaris in Mana Pools, Zimbabwe.
Within the camp’s boundaries, an elephant approached, eventually giving birth to the adorable baby elephant.
In the enchanting setting of Mwinilunga Safaris in Mana Pools, Zimbabwe, a young elephant calf embarks on an endearing struggle to stand tall on its unsteady legs while striving to keep up with its mother.
The charming young elephant is almost there! With sheer determination, it attempts to balance itself while employing its trunk and tail for support.
A heartwarming video showcases the calf’s delightful efforts to find its footing as it stretches its trunk and wiggles its tail for balance.
The little one hesitates with the first step, stumbles, and lands on the ground. Undeterred by this early fall, it bravely tries again while grappling with its curious trunk.
This adventure of standing and walking unfolds, with the baby elephant consistently falling to the ground as it strives to grasp the art of walking.
This endeavor, it seems, is turning out to be a tad more challenging than expected for the young calf.
With steadfast determination, the baby elephant keeps reaching out with its trunk to match its mother’s pace.
Initially, it grapples with the challenge of walking, mirroring the famous Disney character Bambi sliding on ice.
Yet, with practice and time, the little one masters walking, striding confidently beside its mother.
Caroline, our dedicated wildlife photographer, typically seeks African wild dogs or lions on her morning safaris, as they are more active during this time.
During her recent adventure in the wild, Belgian wildlife photographer Caroline Deschuymere found herself utterly enchanted by a baby elephant. She playfully compared the adorable creature to Disney’s iconic character, Bambi.
Though her original plan was to capture images of other wildlife, seeing numerous baby elephants prompted a change of heart.
While observing a group of elephants quenching their thirst at a watering hole, she was fortunate to witness the awe-inspiring birth of a baby elephant.
The young and persistent calf refuses to give in, showcasing its endearing dance-like efforts in front of its mother.
This little one faced an hour-long struggle to stand on its feet, its legs awkwardly bent. First, it had to figure out how to stretch them properly, followed by the challenging quest for balance.
Watching the calf’s antics in trying to stay upright was a heartwarming, almost comical sight – akin to observing someone a little drunk.
Nevertheless, this determined calf conquered the challenge with encouraging nudges from its older sibling.
Watch the video below: