Orphaned baby elephant on road to recovery after finding new home with humans and two pet dogs

Orphaned one-week old calf was found on brink of starvation by rangers



Baby elephant Moses has been adopted by the Jumbo Foundation in Malawi



He had just a 20 per cent chance of survival but that has now risen to 50 per cent after several months at the sanctuary

Just a few months ago this baby elephant was found alone and on the brink of starvation after being separated from its herd.



But now this adorable calf has made an incredible recovery after being rescued by a charity for orphaned elephants in Malawi.



Baby elephant Moses, named after another famous abandoned calf, has been adopted by the Jumbo Foundation where he is being raised by humans.

Going for a walk: The calf was being brought up by Jenny Webb, founder of the Jumbo Foundation (pictured here with Moses and her pet dogs Barney, left, Bagheera right)

Bond: Moses cuddles his adoptive mother at their home in Lilongwe, Malawi. The pair became very close during their time together

Sadness: Moses the rescued baby elephant was being looked after by humans in Malawi after being found alone and sick in a riverbed. He was thought to be making a good recovery just weeks before his death on Monday

Sweet dreams: Moses shared a makeshift bed with Ms Webb in order to help him get to sleep

The foundation described the heart-breaking moment abandoned Moses was found in February this year when he was just a week old by rangers at Vwaza Wildlife Reserve.



A post on the foundation website blog says: 'Rangers at Vwaza Wildlife Reserve noticed a baby elephant on his own running around frantically trying to find his mother. The rangers monitored the baby and tried to locate the herd he belonged to without success.'

A few days later, the rangers spotted the calf again in the South Rukuru River and his condition had deteriorated so much he was too weak to get out of the water.



It continued: 'The rangers then decided to intervene and rescued the baby.

Thirsty: Despite being brought up by humans, Moses was expected to be able to be released back into the wild

New surroundings: Moses at his feeding place at the bottom of a staircase at his home in Lilongwe, Malawi

New friends: Baby elephant Moses makes his way into the kitchen with the sanctuary pet dogs, left, and is tempted with one of his foal milk formula bottles, right



'Various parks and wildlife organizations were contacted and nobody was in a position to take the elephant.'



Jumbo Foundation owner, Jenny Webb, was contacted about the baby calf and agreed to take on custody of the elephant on behalf of the National Parks and Wildlife.



He had just a 20 per cent chance of survival but that has now risen to 50 per cent after several months at the sanctuary.



She began feeding him a foal milk formula as elephants don't start eating solids until they are eight months old.

Play time: Moses plays in a dust pit with carer Matimat Julius

Rescued: Moses was found alone and close to death in the Vwaza Wildlife Reserve

Close pals: Pet dog Kirby licks up Moses' spilled formula feed

Ms Webb also sleeps on a mattress next to the baby elephant as he won't sleep without having some form of contact similar to what he would have had with his mother in the wild.



The orphaned elephants are raised at the foundation in Lilongwe, Malawi, in a way to ensure that they are physically and physiologically able to be released back into the wild.



Elephants need to live as part of a herd and other animals can make a good substitute.



So Moses now also has several new friends - primarily two pet dogs at the sanctuary, Barney and Bagheera.

Helping trunk: The calf is pictured with carer Jim Tembo as he mops the floor at the sanctuary in Malawi

Laid back: Moses is seen here with the pet dogs that became his constant companions

Second chance: The young elephant had been thought to have a 50 per cent chance of survival after being rescued on the brink of starvation















