Newborn Elephant Wobbles Accompanied by Mother Elephant, Hours Post-Birth - Video Footage
On August 7, 2025, a heartwarming video of a newborn elephant calf taking its first steps in the wild went viral. The calf, standing about one metre in height and weighing roughly 120 kilograms, displayed a clumsy yet crucial behavior that is vital for its survival.
The video, shared by Indian Forest Service officer Parveen Kaswan, shows the mother elephant helping the little one to its feet after birth, with other maternal figures in the herd offering assistance as well. This initial struggle to stand is a vital step for nursing and mobility, and it highlights the importance of close social bonds for elephant calves in the wild.
Elephants rely heavily on tactile communication to bond with and reassure newborns. In the video, the herd members can be seen offering comforting gestures to the calf, such as placing their trunk tips in the newborn’s mouth. These comforting gestures signal welcome and safety to the calf, helping it to feel secure in its new environment.
In the wild, elephant calves need to be mobile for survival. The herd groups together tightly when threats are perceived, protecting the vulnerable calf through collective vigilance and action. Playful behavior among young elephants also contributes to survival by fostering social bonds, trust, and learning. This play helps calves build confidence and develop motor skills needed for later life challenges.
Last month, another viral video showed a baby elephant attempting to hoist itself onto a chair and sit like a human. Despite being relatively large in size, the baby elephant displayed tremendous composure in the video with a tiny frog.
The viral video of the mother elephant crossing a road with her newborn calf has sparked a flood of online reactions, with users expressing a range of emotions. User 3 commented, "Favourite animal of all time. Absolute sweethearts and best seen in the wild. No to zoos always. Hope we can shut all Indian zoos and give these guys a chance at a proper life in the wild amongst mates."
Similarly, another viral post on Instagram showed a tusker enjoying a bath with his caretaker when he spotted an unexpected little visitor - a tiny frog. The video of the tusker gently attempting to avoid the croaking frog while taking a bath with his caretaker highlights the gentle nature of these majestic creatures.
These newborn behaviors - standing soon after birth, nursing with maternal care, tactile reassurance from the herd, protective grouping, and playful social learning - are essential for the calf’s survival and integration into the complex elephant social structure in the wild. It's a miracle of nature that continues to captivate and inspire us all.
- Witnessing the first steps of a newborn elephant calf in the wild is a testament to the importance of observing these majestic creatures in their natural habitat, rather than confining them to zoos, as suggested by User 3 in their comment on the viral video footage.
- Home-and-garden standards may not accommodate the unique behaviors of elephant calves, such as the clumsy yet crucial behavior seen in the viral video of the baby elephant attempting to hoist itself onto a chair, highlighting the fact that these incredible creatures require the wide-open spaces and social structures found only in the wild for their proper lifestyle and survival.
