Elephants may be the biggest land mammals on Earth, but this baby pachyderm runs to mom for the cutest reason.
Cartoons have always taught us that elephants love peanuts and are afraid of mice, and while mostly unfounded, the baby elephant in this video proves being big isn't the same as being brave. The calf is calmly enjoying the attention of a group of onlookers when a baby goat tries to join in.
Not willing to wait around and learn exactly what the kid wants, the baby elephant lets out a terrified squeal and runs straight for the cover of its mother standing nearby.
Judging from the elephant's instant reaction, it had likely never seen a goat before. The strange creature was new, and therefore, scary.
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Even in animals, a young one's first instinct when feeling threatened is to run back to the place they feel safest—next to mom. Elephants live in a matriarchal society, and the bond between mother and calf is stronger than any other relationship within the herd. When calves are born, they are blind and rely on the touch and smell of their mothers to guide them through the first minutes and hours of life.
Once more confident on their feet, a baby never strays far from its mother. A newborn calf can weigh up to 250 pounds, but that bulk can't protect it from the dangers that surround them. They're extremely dependent on their mothers, and turn to them for nourishment, comfort, and survival.
This baby elephant may not have been in any danger facing the small black goat, but it knew mom would offer protection. When faced with trouble, there's no better place to be than by mom's side.
What do you think of this scared baby elephant? Let us know in the comments below.
This article was originally published July 6, 2017.
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