Elephant cows protect orphaned baby albino elephant in South Africa

Heartwarming footage captured the moment elephants in South Africa circled to protect an orphaned baby albino elephant.

Heartwarming footage captured the moment elephants in South Africa circled to protect an orphaned baby albino elephant.

Months later, the same baby elephant is caught on camera enjoying a swim with her new family, the Jabulani herd.

In the earlier footage, shot on 30 June 2020, albino elephant Khanyisa was enjoying some time relaxing and playing in the sand, while her allomothers Bubi and Kumbura stay close by teaching her about sanding.

Soon they pick up the scent of what must have been a potential threat in the distance and immediately Lundi, Khanyisa's adoptive mother with the perforated ear, runs to her side to ensure maximum protection.

The matriarch, Tokwe, joins too.

Fortunately there was no threat but it was an emotional moment!

Later, on 10 August 2020, Khanyisa was enjoyed a swim in the dam with the Jabulani herd.

The waters were very deep following heavy rain.

The impressive elephant in the forefront is the dominant bull of the herd, Sebakwe.

Khanyisa was found and rescued in January 2020.

She had been stuck in a snare and abandoned or separated from her original herd.

She went through three months of rehabilitation for her wounds and then in April 2020 she started integrating with the Jabulani herd of elephants.

By July she enjoyed her first swim with the herd, and now it is one of her favourite things to do - swim between the love and protection of her new family.