1. Cast Away Calf

When rescuers in South Africa found an ill baby elephant that had been abandoned by his herd his chances for survival were slim. The tiny calf had miraculously survived on his lonesome for days, but he was in need of dire care and attention..

The team of dedicated wildlife rescuers who had found the infant African elephant would attempt no lack of efforts to get the elephant calf back on his feet. However, despite their best efforts, no one expected that an unlikely bond would provide the best medicine.

2. Herd Life

Being with his own kind would have been best for the baby elephant’s wellbeing. Therefore, animal experts made several attempts to reunite the calf with his herd in Hluhluwe’s Bonamanzi Game Reserve. However, the rescuers weren’t expecting the outcome of their efforts.

Sadly, the baby elephant’s herd didn’t take to the little guy and he was again left without his elephant family. At that point, the human wildlife rescuers took things into their own hands but no one could have expected the unbelievable series of events that would ensue.

3. Ellie The Elephant

The rescued elephant was just two weeks old when he arrived at the Thula Thula Private Game Reserve for rehabilitation in Zululand, South Africa in August 2015. Once at the first costume-made sanctuary of its kind in the area the elephant was named Ubuntu, and was known affectionately as Ellie.

Ellie the elephant initially underwent a thorough assessment upon his arrival at the African wildlife rehabilitation sanctuary. But veterinary experts were shocked to find the heartbreaking reason why the adorable elephant calf’s herd had likely left him behind.

4. Fighting To Survive

It was lucky Ellie the elephant had been found by rescuers when he was because sadly the little calf was fighting to survive. The young elephant was battled several debilitating ailments, most critical of which was an infected umbilical hernia.

Without medical treatment, the sick calf almost certainly would have faced a dim prognosis. In fact, the severe condition is fatal for about 99% of its sufferers. Determined to help, Ellie’s human caretakers were willing to do all they could to help but they still feared for his future.

5. Determined To Help

A dedicated team at the animal sanctuary intensively worked around the clock in attempt to nurse Ellie the elephant back to health. Medical staff at the animal orphanage kept a close eye on the elephant and provided 24-hour care.

In addition to Ellie’s life-threatening infections, his system also faced another obstacle that could prove fatal. This new grave concern forced the sanctuary staff to think quickly if the calf would have any chance of pulling through.

6. Severe Symptom

Because his illness was so severe, Ellie the baby elephant had formed an intolerance to the milk that vets were feeding him. Again, his life was hanging in a precarious balance as he rejected the food that he so desperately needed to regain strength and boost his immune system.

The wildlife rehabilitation center staff tried feeding him a range of different kinds of milk that they specially ordered from Zimbabwe and Kenya. Still, he didn’t seem to be taking to any of the options and the situation grew increasingly critical.

7. Remarkable Solution

Eventually, the staff at the African wildlife reserve concocted a special milk formula packed with protein, minerals and coconut oil for little Ellie. To everyone’s relief, at that point, the elephant calf finally started to take to the formula.

As the orphaned baby elephant began ingesting his food, he slowly started to show signs of stabilizing. The situation was slightly more hopeful now that he seemed to be physically improving, however, his physical ailments weren’t all that were plaguing him.

8. Low Spirits

“[The elephant] was particularly weak and particularly ill,” said Karen Trendler, a rehabilitation and crisis response expert treating Ellie at the animal orphanage. “He wasn’t showing much interest in doing anything. He was very lethargic, very disinterested.”

Despite his newfound safety and all the treatment he received, the young elephant appeared lonely, downtrodden and withdrawn. That was when caretakers made a heart-wrenching realization about the abandoned baby elephant.

9. Emotional Trauma

Elephants are very social animals and rely on communal bonds in the wild. After his traumatic start in life, Ellie the elephant seemed to be having a hard time overcoming the psychological strains that he had endured.

The lonely calf was having trouble adjusting without his herd even though he was physically improving. The rescued elephant’s psychological state seemed to be quickly declining. Not wanting to see the little elephant that had gone through so much already suffer anymore, the orphanage staff then did something that would have a life-altering impact on the orphaned baby elephant.

10. Shelter For Many Species

The Thula Thula wildlife rehabilitation reserve where Ellie was being cared for housed a variety of African wildlife in addition to the baby elephant. The game reserve was mainly home to poaching victims – rhinos in particular. However, it also took in buffalo, leopards, giraffes, zebras, hyenas, and crocodiles.

While there was no lack of potential friends for the young African elephant, Ellie didn’t seem interested in mingling with his neighbors. That was, however, until one special acquaintance would come along and form an unlikely bond with the little elephant.

11. Ellie and Duma

Seeking to improve the elephant’s mental well-being, experts at the wildlife rehabilitation center hoped to brighten Ellie’s mood when they introduced him to an adult male German Shepard named Duma, who also lived on the grounds.

Duma was a former police dog and was known for his particularly attentive and tender nature toward all creatures. Given Elli’s precarious condition, though, no one expected just what would happen between the two going forward.

12. Canine Companion

Much to their surprise and delight, Ellie’s caretakers saw an immediate change in rescued elephant’s behavior. “We introduced Duma and the elephant in the sandpile, and it immediately cheered the elephant up,” exclaimed orphanage expert Karen Trendler.

“And it also had a massive impact on the elephant in that he suddenly started getting a little bit of interest in life again,” Trendler added. “And over the past few weeks they’ve been growing this relationship.” But that wasn’t all.

13. Miraculously Revitalized

Finally, it seemed that the baby elephant had a reason to live again. Although his physical afflictions weren’t completely healed yet, Ellie’s depression and fatigue seemed to evaporate away as the adorable yet unlikely pair of animal friends became all the more inseparable.

Ellie’s emotional improvement was all the more apparent as the elephant and dog friends were adorably found playing together in dirt mounds and sharing tender moments under trees. The baby elephant even appeared to be smiling when he got together with his pawed playmate. Despite the differences between the unlikely friends, Duma the dog also demonstrate a heart-warming change in behavior that no one expected.

14. Best Buddies

The German Shepherd seemed to have taken on a paternal role when it came to the orphaned baby elephant. “We have a hard time keeping Duma away from the elephant. He’s become incredibly protective,” the animal orphanage said about the retired service dog.

Wherever Elli went, Duma could be found playfully and protectively running to-and-fro. Whether the dog brought his elephant offering of sticks or a comforting nuzzle, the frisky friends were completely happy in each other’s presence. Along with the emotional benefits, the mutually uplifting relationship also seemed to have an incredible physical influence.

15. Inseparable Animal Friends

“Against all odds, this little elephant is still with us,” said Trendler after the elephant and dog formed a friendship. For the first time since Ellie arrived at the reserve, his spirits were up and he seemed happy to be alive thanks to his bond with his new best friend, Duma.

Adorable videos of the unlikely animal friends showed them energetically playing together with tails wagging and spritely body language. As the weeks and months went by and the precious friendship only further blossomed. As Ellie’s health seemed to be ever on the rise, his dedicated team caregivers had to think long and hard about the elephant’s future.

16. Safari Soul Mates

Initially, caretakers and veterinarians at the wildlife reserve were planning to release Ellie from the orphanage when he managed to regain full strength. At that point, the rescued elephant would either be introduced to an existing herd of wild animals or join one consisting of other orphaned elephants.

As time passed, the wildlife experts continued to contemplate the best course of action for the elephant in the future. In light of Ellie’s close connection with Duma the dog, however, things weren’t as certain about his future.

17. Pressure Lifted

Thanks to the invaluable bond between the baby elephant and more mature dog, the sanctuary staff was released from the pressure to hurry to reintroduce the baby elephant into a social situation and risk rushing to return him to the wild before a full recovery.

Caregivers had initially sought to quickly re-release Ellie into the wild where he could be with his own species and again be part of herd society. However, with the care and protection, the elephant received from this dog friend, that objective was less urgent. Everything seemed to be going swimmingly, and that’s why no one was expecting a devastating turn of events that would soon catch everyone off guard.

18. Turn For The Worse

Caretakers at the orphanage finally thought they could breathe a sigh of relief now that it seemed the baby elephant would finally pull through. Their dreams for the elephant would soon be thrown into question again when an unanticipated emergency struck.

Suddenly, after months at the wildlife rehabilitation sanctuary, Ellie’s health took an unexpected turn for the worse one unassuming day in January 2016. No ready to give up on the elephant, his determined caretakers immediately made an urgent request from anyone who could help.

19. Plea For Help

“We need to get IV colloids bought thru for a collapsed elephant calf,” read a message Karen Trendler posted in a social media appeal for urgent veterinary assistance. The sanctuary staff couldn’t bear to stand by idly as the brave little elephant faced yet another trying hardship.

Despite the miraculous boost that Ellie’s friendship with Duma had on his physical and mental health, the elephant’s previous septicemia infection had relapsed and was spreading at an alarming rate. The poor little elephant was in a delicate condition and it wasn’t clear whether he’d make it through the night.

20. Untimely End

Much to the despair of everyone at the Thula Thula reserve, little Ellie the elephant only made it a few more days before he tragically passed away just five months after he’d arrived at the animal orphanage.

The Thula Thula reserve was flooded with condolences after they posted a touching announcement about the sad news. The intrepid little elephant who had fought so hard to overcome all the obstacles life had thrown at him was remembered for being “brave and tough.” But his moving story didn’t end there.

21. Free-Roaming Spirit

“Ellie has been returned to the wild buried in a special place at Thula where his spirit can roam with the herd,” read an emotional message from the wildlife conservation organization. Deeply affected by Ellie’s story, the animal sanctuary knew their efforts were all the more important.

Still, the orphanage staff was overcome with “deep sadness and so many tears.” Their only comfort was in the fact that he had been able to find happiness in his life thanks to his sweet friendship with Duma and that his legacy would forever live on in a meaningful way.

22. Never Forgetting The Elephant

The world sadly had to say goodbye to Ellie the baby elephant at an untimely age, but his adopted family and fond fans will always remember him for his legacy of overcoming hardships and demonstrating tender love and kindness even in the most daunting of times.

Furthermore, the precious bond between Duma the dog and Ellie the elephant won’t soon be forgotten and will continue to warm the hearts of all who come across their story. Left without her friend Duma the dog was likely pretty down. However, his dampened spirits wouldn’t last too long as the loyal canine would soon find another adorable friend.

23. A New Opportunity

Undoubtedly feeling a void where her dear pal Ellie had been, it didn’t take long for Duma the dog to throw his energy into making friends with another baby animal that also needed cheering up at the sanctuary.

While Ellie’s place could never be taken, it appeared that the well-natured German Shepard was ready to share his compassion again when vets sought to introduce him to another mutually compassionate and beneficial friendship – this time with an orphaned baby rhinoceros.

24. Déjà Vu

It seemed that Duma the German Shepard had made something of a reputation for himself as the resident emotional support dog and adoptive parent for other animals at the Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage. Having seen how beneficial her presence was for Ellie the elephant, the sanctuary staff was hoping for the same result with Nandi the rhino.

Like Ellie the elephant had, the baby black rhino had to adjust to life at the wildlife preserve after experiencing her own trauma. Poachers had reportedly killed Nandi’s mother when she was found by animal conservationists from the orphanage. But her transition from the wild wasn’t necessarily easy.

25. When Dog Meets Rhino

Nandi’s species of black rhinos is now an endangered species due to poaching, but such concerns weren’t on the little rhinos mind on the fateful day that she would meet her soon-to-be BFF, Duma. An expert at cheering up exotic animals, Duma had the perfect solution.

The ever-playful Duma approached the orphaned baby rhino with curiosity and energy. But that wasn’t all. The German Shepherd had also brought with a stuffed animal toy in his mouth and then something beautiful happened.

26. Friendly Frolicking

Duma offered Nandi the fluffy toy puppy and, instantly, tails started wagging and games ensued. As a natural and clever leader, Duma led the way, teaching his new rhino friend a cute intra-species game. From there, a lot of precious hopping and playful chasing ensued.

It didn’t take long for Nandi the rhino to pick up on the game Duma had taught her, and as their unlikely friendship flourished, the rhino would eventually even become the one to start the games of friendly frolicking. From there, the two were inseparable, but what would happen when Nandi wasn’t a baby anymore?

27. A Perceptive Pal

As pictures and video of the rhino and dog friends surfaced on the Internet, the unlikely animal duo became a viral sensation. Onlookers just couldn’t get enough of the adorable pair. But their bond also raised some questions.

The wildlife sanctuary that housed Duma and Nandi had apparently received some inquiries about what would happen to the animal friends when the rhino grew up. But the orphanage reassured that Duma was perhaps even more skilled than human handlers at sensing and reacting to the rhino’s moods.

28. The Rhino Whisperer

“Fortunately Duma has been reared with rhino and worked with a much larger black rhino, he is exceptional at reading their behavior and seems to know when to get out of the way,” the orphanage said. “With the older rhino Duma would pick up that the rhino was going to charge even before we spotted the subtle changes.”

Duma certainly seemed to have a talent when it came to making friends and cheering up other animals in need. And while his connection to the likes of Ellie and Nandi was unique, they weren’t the only animals who’ve made unassuming bonds with surprising friends of different species – read on for another pair of unlikely animal friends that will make you say ‘OMG!’

29. Worlds Away

Another one of the most adorable animal friendships that has melted hearts around the world was one forged by another African elephant. However, this one took place halfway around the world from where the touching story of Ellie the elephant and Duma the dog took place.

Like Ellie the calf, Bubbles the elephant had a precarious start to her life in Africa before she was rescued and unexpectedly ended up making a lifelong friendship with a puppy that would give everyone a major case of #squadgoals envy. But how did it all begin?

30. Adopted From Africa

Back in 1983, Bubbles the elephant was rescued in Africa after an attack by poachers on her family left her orphaned. The baby elephant was one of the few lucky ones, though, who would find a safe home in the U.S. amid a 20-year poaching epidemic between 1970 and 1989.

All the way in South Carolina, the Myrtle Beach Safari wanted to adopt Bubbles and bring her to their secure grounds where she could live a calm and carefree life. As Bubbles made her way across the Atlantic Ocean, no one expected just what the future would hold for the orphaned baby elephant.

31. Arriving In America

When Bubbles the elephant arrived at her new home in America, she stood only 42 inches tall and weighed 340 pounds (described as “small and helpless for an elephant”). Far from her home and without her biological family, trainers weren’t sure at first how Bubbles would take to life in the wildlife park.

She thrived over the years, though, and reached her full size of a whopping 9 feet tall, weighing around 9,000 pounds. In spite of her massive size, Bubbles the African elephant no one would have guessed how she’d form an unlikely bond with the puppy.

32. Pool Of Dreams

In efforts to make Bubbles feel more at home in her new habitat, the Myrtle Beach Safari constructed a pool for her to wade in. However, the pool wasn’t the only thing the contractor who’d been hired to make the structure left at the wildlife center.

An adorable little black Labrador puppy name Bella had also been left all by its lonesome at the site. At the time, though, no one knew just how symbolic the pool would be in the lives of the two animals who would henceforth call the Myrtle Beach Safari home.

33. Bubbles And Bella

Both Bubbles the elephant and Bella the dog had been orphaned at a young age. Luckily, however, they didn’t have to face to prospect of loneliness for very long. With similar backgrounds and socially-inclined attitudes, the two animals were bound to forge a lasting friendship.

Although they were something of an unusual pairing, the African elephant and black Lab found their way to each and quickly became the family that neither had. Yet, no one expected just how much of a spectacle the inseparable pair would make.

34. Famous Friends

The unusual animal friends quickly became a huge sensation with visitors and on the Internet as they could regularly be found playing together on the grounds of The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S) in South Carolina.

“The pool and eventually the [nearby] river presented these two the opportunity to interact in a way that developed a deep and lasting friendship,” said trainers at the wildlife park. People flocked to see the beloved pair, but their reputations extended even further than at the enclosure.

35. Lifetime Love

Bubbles the elephant has become one of the best-known animals in the U.S. and has even appeared in films such as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. But it’s her home life with Bella that’s truly remarkable.

The dog and elephant pair could be seen playing their favorite game in which Bubbles throws a ball with her trunk and Bella jumps off of her friend’s back into the water to retrieve it. The adorable duo loves the water, but that’s not all.

36. Just The Two Of Them

Both Bella and Bubbles seemed perfectly comfortable with the arrangement and, apart from playing in the water, it wasn’t rare to find the black dog affectionately riding or climbing on top of her patient giant buddy.

“They just love to romp around together,” safari staff said. Although no one may have suspected it, by looking at these two pairs of dog and elephant friends, it appears that the two animals make for the best of friends and prove just how far the implications of kindness and companionship can really go.

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Sources: Time, Daily Mail