These Elephants’ Empathetic Expression is Remarkable

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Elephants are incredibly intelligent animals that experience a remarkable emotional depth. While they can be fiercely protective and dangerous, elephants also show profound empathy for others, including unrelated elephants and even different animal species. So, it’s no surprise that when a young elephant calf found itself trapped in a water ditch, a family of elephants — strangers to the calve and its mother — immediately rushed to its aid. The video above captures this tender moment, showcasing the species’ profound capacity for compassion. 

How Long Do Baby Elephants Stay With Their Mothers?

A female elephant’s dedication to her young starts long before the calf is born. During one of the longest gestation periods in the animal kingdom — nearly two years! — the mother carries her 200-pound calf with unwavering care. 

Once a baby elephant is finally born, it can typically stand within just a few minutes. However, these young calves still rely on their mothers for the next several years. Even though elephant calves can eat on their own by age 2, nursing may last up to 10 years as their mothers’ milk provides them with essential nutrients and antibodies. In fact, it’s not until they reach their late teens or even early 20s that an elephant is considered fully grown. 

The bond between an elephant mother and her calf is quite strong, and the two are rarely ever separated. A baby elephant can’t survive in the wild without its mother, and separation is a traumatic experience for both the calf and its mother. While an elephant mother’s love and protection are nearly unassailable, the natural world is full of dangers. Fortunately, unexpected allies sometimes show up to offer aid, as seen in the video above.

Elephants and Altruism

Elephants possess a remarkable level of intelligence that continues to astonish the scientific community. Researchers like Frans de Waal have spent years studying the complexities of elephant cognition, showing that these gentle giants are excellent at cooperation and problem-solving. Elephants are incredibly resourceful, often use tools, and can navigate complex and dangerous environments. 

But elephants aren’t just super smart — they’re also extraordinarily empathetic. They form strong social bonds, experience grief, and consider the feelings of others. With excellent short-term and long-term memory, elephants even experience nightmares after a traumatic event. 

The empathy of elephants often extends beyond their own families and even to other species. In the video above, a herd of unrelated elephants demonstrates this unique quality by rushing to help a distressed baby elephant trapped in a water ditch. 

Where Do Elephants Live?

There are three distinct species of elephants: African savanna elephants (or African bush elephants), African forest elephants, and Asian elephants. 

Both African savanna and African forest elephants live across several countries in Africa. African savanna elephants are the largest land mammals on Earth. These colossal creatures can stand as tall as 11 feet and weigh up to 6 tons! African forest elephants, in contrast, have adapted to the dense forests of the Congo Basin and are much smaller, weighing around 2.7 tons. 

Asian elephants live in southeast Asia and India. They typically grow 8 to 10 feet tall and weigh between 2 and 5 tons. 

Sadly, all three species of elephants are endangered. Despite their long lifespans — elephants can live to be around 70 years old in the wild — their survival is drastically threatened by poaching and habitat loss.