With his mother’s help, the newborn elephant made a fortuitous escape when a crocodile tried to bite off his trunk.
A crocodile emerged from the water and snatched the trunk of a baby elephant that was swimming around the deep end of a drinking hole in the African forest.
Trunking and snorting, the herd mates stared in amazement as they battled to protect the defenseless little calf from the threat.
The young elephant overwhelmed the scared crocodile and tumbled back to avoid the danger, forcing it back into the murky water.
A baby elephant drinks at a watering hole in the African bush while a crocodile stands stiffly in the water a few feet away. The crocodile jumps out of the water and snaps its jaws shut around the calf’s trunk in an instant.
Francois Borman’s camera was used to take the amazing pictures by Mana Pools in Zimbabwe’s Zambezi Valley.”This is the last thing I imagined seeing! I was out in the jungle for several hours hoping for some activity,” he exclaimed.
I usually have high standards when I go out with my camera, but this situation is just amazing to witness.
“A local crocodile saw the herd of small elephants coming down to drink and spent some time measuring them up, chasing the baby calf playing in the shallows,” the observer reported.
“It’s clear the baby elephant was excited about the water because he sprang into the deep, murky water and began to roll around, screaming.”
The amazing photos were taken by talented photographer and farmer Francois Borman in Zimbabwe, close to the Mana Pools in the Zambezi Valley.
The rest of the herd gathered around in wonder, snorting and trumpeting as they struggled to keep the helpless baby elephant safe.
The baby elephant throws off the crocodile and stumbles backward with a little help from his mother.
“It didn’t have to worry about the outside world, and it definitely didn’t consider the dangers that might be present in the murky waters,” he went on.
The tiny calf knelt down to drink from its lips because it was unsure of how to use its trunk to do so. Eventually, it got up and tried its hand at using its trunk to reach the water.
“It was a mess when the crocodile jumped onto the baby elephant’s trunk and grabbed it.”With a choking squeal, the calf charged the crocodile, fighting for its life.
“Time stopped still as the calf resisted and with incredible tenacity, almost immediately pulled the reptile out of the water.”After more elephants raced to the scene to assist, the crocodile eventually released the calf.
“When I saw my pictures, I was overjoyed because I knew they were special.”
“Snaps like this are the payoff—wildlife photographers spend a lot of time waiting, hoping for that specific sight.”
Heartbreaking Tragedy: Dad Breaks Silence After Mom and 3 Kids Found Dead
The small town of Wolcottville, Indiana, is still in shock after a terrible tragedy earlier this September.
Rebecca Hughes, who was 32 years old, was found dead along with her three children: 8-year-old Evelyn, 6-year-old Allison, and 5-year-old Amelia.
On September 17, police went to check on Hughes at her home and found her body along with her children’s.
The Indiana State Police sent detectives and crime scene investigators to the home. Police stated that the information and evidence they have shows there is no threat to the public.
While the investigation is still going on, authorities have not yet figured out what caused the tragedy, according to WSBT22. The Noble County Coroner’s Office has not released the cause of death or a toxicology report.
This heartbreaking news has deeply affected the close-knit community of Wolcottville, which has about 1,000 residents. As people learned the names of the family, many gathered to mourn and pay their respects. Main Street was filled with candles and stuffed animals, creating a touching tribute to the lost family.
Local pastor Mike Stanley told WSBT22, “Everybody’s grieving in their own way. If we come together and share that love… there are people here that I don’t know from the community, and I’ve lived here for twenty-some-odd years. But if we share the hurt, we share the burden; it all gets a little lighter for all of us.”
The children’s father, Jonathan Newell, set up a GoFundMe page to help with funeral costs. He also shared a moving statement. “These kids deserve so much more than I can provide for their burials. Rebecca, their mom, took them with her when she passed on 09/17/2024. If you can, everything helps. If you need to be paid back after, I can make payments. I’ll do whatever it takes,” Jonathan wrote.
The community came together to support Jonathan and the children. By the end of the fundraising campaign, he had received an amazing $47,000 in donations. “People who didn’t even know me or my kids started just giving money and sending messages,” Jonathan told ABC57.
On Sunday, September 22, funeral services were held at Hite Funeral Home for the girls, followed by a burial at Swan Cemetery. In another update on September 24, Jonathan wrote, “The funeral was beautiful, and my daughters were laid to rest in peace. Please stop donating now; I appreciate everything, but others need this now. Tomorrow I will start personal thank yous again.”
At this point, no one knows for sure what happened to the girls, as nothing has been made public. However, interviews with Jonathan, the father, and Rebecca’s friends show that Rebecca struggled with mental health issues.
Friend Ashley Gross posted on Facebook, describing Rebecca as “quiet and shy” around strangers but “so funny and bubbly” with friends. She added, “Rebecca did love her kids, and unfortunately, I don’t think anyone was there for her as she was going through something, mentally and emotionally.”
In the wake of the tragedy, Jonathan has shared an important message. He expressed regret for not being more present and hopes others can avoid feeling the same way. “If you are a parent, and you have kids, and you need help, then get it. Because you don’t know when it’s going to be the last time you can,” he pleaded.
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