Whether volunteering at a shelter or working at a sanctuary to care for endangered animals in need, each moment that you show up is an opportunity to make a real difference. One handler for Elephant Haven in Botswana is doing just that.
Elephant Haven is the country’s only elephant orphanage, and they help with wildlife conservation and protection efforts for African Elephants. In a video posted to the @elephanthavensfoundation TikTok account, it shows a glimpse into their day-to-day.
This handler has developed a very special relationship with a baby elephant named Joy, and their bond is so sweet. Go ahead and watch as Baby Joy showers him with morning kisses before her walk. It’s the most adorable thing!
@elephanthavensfoundation Baby Joy gives kisses to our handler, and he enjoys every sweet moment. 🐘💛 Her playful trunk gently touches his face, and she kisses him. A true sign of trust and affection. It’s heartwarming to see how much love and comfort she feels around him. Joy and her handler’s bond grow stronger every day, built on patience, care, and endless gentle moments like this. Watching them interact reminds us that love knows no bounds…❤️
I cannot stop saying, “Aww!” @elephanthavensfoundation described their interaction perfectly, saying, “Baby Joy gives kisses to our handler, and he enjoys every sweet moment.” I mean, who wouldn’t want a smooch from this cutie pie?
Due to the nature of their work, they went on to explain the significance of this interaction between them adding, “Her playful trunk gently touches his face, and she kisses him. A true sign of trust and affection. It’s heartwarming to see how much love and comfort she feels around him.” And commenters would agree, as so many were touched seeing the real connection between these two.
“Baby Joy is just so affectionate,” observed @kofeffee about this baby elephant, and many others gushed over how much they’d love to trade places with her handler.
“A kiss from an elephant would fix all my problems,” wrote @tallisbeautiful42, and @carrieannevaught added, “I’m so jealous right now. I wanna love on a baby elephant.”
Related: Baby Elephant’s Precious Zoo Day with Mom Is a Real-Life ‘Dumbo’ Moment
There’s no doubt that Baby Joy feels loved and safe with her handler. As you continue watching, she even starts making a purring sound. Like many other animals, that generally means she’s comfortable and content in the moment. And could you blame her? From what I can see, it’s obvious the feeling is mutual from her handler.
In the video caption, @elephanthavensfoundation ended it mentioning, “Watching them interact reminds us that love knows no bounds.” I couldn’t have said it better myself. Baby Joy and her handler show us the amazing friendships we can form with animals. It’s truly something special.