Sometimes, the greatest service another can offer is just being there for somebody else. After a death, a bad breakup, or maybe even missing out on a job promotion, the comfort of someone else can mean the world.
For baby elephants that recently lost their mothers, that support is critical. According to Daphne Sheldrick of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT) located in Kenya, Africa, even if an orphaned elephant is given food, water, and shelter, it will die if it doesn’t receive the love and nurturing it would have from its mother.
For this reason, an ostrich named Pea deserves some major recognition. In 2014, the bird and her brother, Pod, were rescued when a baby elephant was taken in by the shelter. Pod has since returned to the wild, but Pea decided to stay at the nursery, likely because she almost believes herself to be an elephant now.
She’s not afraid to cuddle with large mammals at the center (even if they are babies) and proved this when she befriended a one-month-old baby elephant named Jotto, who was rescued after he became separated from his herd and fell down a well. Though there are other elephants in the nursery at DSWT, he became fast friends with Pea. Now, they are nearly inseparable.
DSWT wrote this week:
“It is safe to say orphaned ostrich Pea most definitely believes she is part of the elephant herd and little Jotto is more than happy to enjoy a cuddle with his feathered friend. Beautifully tender moments at the Nairobi Nursery, where these two orphans and many, many others, are being given the opportunity to heal and, when they are ready, to return to the wild.”
Following are some photos of the pair:
One-month-old Jotto was rescued after he fell down a well.
Fortunately, he found sanctuary at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust…
He also met his best friend Pea, a sociable ostrich.
The two are nearly inseparable and often cuddle together.
“Orphaned ostrich Pea most definitely believes she is part of the elephant herd…”
“…and little Jotto is more than happy to enjoy a cuddle with his feathered friend”
Truly, friends do come in all shapes and sizes.
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