Orphaned calf whose family was killed by lightning is taken into the care of elderly elephants

Orphaned after a lightning strike killed his parents’ herd, the African baby elephant Eliot had a traumatic start.

But since he was rescued on Christmas Day and taken to a shelter when he was just three days old, he’s been helped through the tough times – by two kindly elderly elephants.

Like Eliot, his new playmates Kadiki, three years old, and Beatrix, one, were orphaned and narrowly escaped death.

Kadiki survived deep wounds after a lion attack at just a day old, while Beatrix was rescued after getting stuck in a gully.

Like Eliot, his new playmates Kadiki, three years old, and Beatrix, one, were orphaned and narrowly escaped death.

Since Eliot was rescued on Christmas Day and taken to a sanctuary when he was just three days old, he has been helped through the tough times by two kindly elderly elephants

When Beatrix arrived at the shrine, Kadiki took on the role of mother. Photos of Kadiki gently wrapping a reassuring briefcase around Beatrix captured the hearts of Mail readers last year.

Now they pass on their love to three-month-old Eliot. All three live in the Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery near the capital Harare. Animal activist Roxy Danckwerts, whose charity Wild is Life runs the site, said: ‘The other two immediately comforted Eliot because they went through it. The intensity of the emotion and concern is extraordinary.’

Academic research has found that elephants tend to have “very strong social bonds” within family groups.

Once the three are strong enough, the nursery hopes to move them to a sanctuary near Victoria Falls — which is safe from poachers — to integrate with wild elephant herds.