Everyone loves a good hero story, and having a video of the rescue only adds to the excitement and notoriety of it all. Whether it’s a human saving a turtle from the middle of the road or an elephant saving an antelope from drowning, we are reminded every day that we live among greatness!
In a recent video, shared by Jeff Corwin on his Instagram page, @wildcorwin, we witness a miracle of epic proportions. The rescue takes place in a zoo setting, with the star hero being an enormous elephant.
Rather quickly, the elephant becomes acutely aware of an antelope that has fallen into the watering hole and is unable to get itself out. The giant pachyderm uses her powerful trunk to grab onto the horn of the antelope, who is having a difficult time stabilizing itself in the water.
The elephant tries several times to get a good grasp as the antelope clearly struggles to stay above water. Finally, after a few intense moments, the massive elephant gets a good grip on one horn. She then lifts the antelope halfway out of the water, providing enough leverage for the animal to use its front hooves along the edge of the pond and dig out of the water.
After being rescued, the antelope, who is thrilled to be back on solid ground, shakes off the water, and likely the stress of the near-drowning experience, and treads off with the others. The elephant follows rather closely and appears to check on her friend to make sure it is alright.
Related: Young Elephant Dives Headfirst Into the Water Trough and the Herd’s Reaction is Priceless
Watching this touching video gives us all the good feels, and many viewers agreed in the comment section:
“Beautiful! I love how she went to check on them afterwards, too. I love elephants! They are just such caring amazing creatures.”
“Elephants really demonstrate how matriarchal structures make a difference.”
“They are quite literally the guardians of the animal kingdom!”
This reel highlights the compassionate and protective nature of elephants and reminds us that even extra-large mammals wear capes sometimes!