Elephant herd comes to the rescue of trapped baby

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, South Africa, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- A safari company in South Africa captured footage of an elephant herd coming to the rescue of a baby whose mother was unable to pluck it out of a watering hole.

Wild Wings Safaris posted a video to YouTube showing the baby elephant in Kruger National Park having trouble pulling itself out of the slippery watering hole, despite its mother's best efforts to help it.

"His young mother tried to assist but was too inexperienced to know how to help him," safari director Onne Vegter told ABC News. "She hung her trunk down and at one point even seemed to offer her hind legs for support, but his little trunk was just too short to hold on to mommy's legs."

The rest of elephant herd soon arrives and "more experienced" members lend a "helping trunk" to lift the baby.

"This touching video shows the close emotional bonds between elephants and how they look out for each other," Vegter said.