Ellie, the baby elephant, wasn’t expected to survive. Ellie suffered from severe health issues and was abandoned by her herd. Ellie was given refuge at the Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage in South Africa. It was not believed, at first, that Ellie would survive. Ellie was lethargic and disinterested in life. The rescuers began to lose hope but were not quite ready to give up. Duma, the German Shepherd, also lived at the refuge.
Ellie’s caretakers took the despondent elephant to the sand pile and introduced him to Duma. Rehabilitation expert Karen Trendler noticed the instant bond between the pooch and the elephant. “Ellie became more interested in living,” Trendler said. “He went from being lethargic to being interested in others and in living.”
Ellie’s story isn’t the first of its kind. Shadow, a white German Shepherd, reportedly began to look after a baby goat as if it were her own offspring. A goat named Mr. G and a donkey named Jellybean were raised together on a farm. Dozens of animals were confiscated from the farm, causing Mr. G and Jellybean to be separated. The goat became depressed and defiant, refusing to eat for nearly a week.
Rescuers decided to bring Jellybean to their location and found Mr. G renewed with life. Animals, like humans, most often need companionship to not only survive, but to thrive. Video footage of little Ellie and his playmate Dumas is a delightful treat, certain to touch all those who see.