A pack of hyenas surrounded a small and helpless baby elephant, ready to attack – but you won’t believe who came to its rescue
The baby elephant had only just learned to stand on its feet and was eagerly exploring the world. The herd was moving along its usual route, from one watering hole to another, through acacia bushes and tall grass. Leading them was an old female – the wise matriarch – while the calf’s mother stayed close to the large bull, gently touching her baby with her trunk from time to time.
But curiosity got the better of him. While the adults were digging up roots and leaves, the calf noticed a colorful butterfly and, flapping his ears with joy, ran after it. He played, tossed clumps of grass into the air, trumpeted – and didn’t realize how far he had strayed from the herd.
When he finally looked around, only the endless savanna stretched out before him. The calf stopped, and fear began to grow in his belly. Just then, the bushes rustled – and hyenas appeared. Eight adults surrounded the little one. Their eyes glowed yellow, their teeth flashed in anticipation of an easy prey.
The baby elephant spread his ears wide and trumpeted, trying to scare the predators away. But they only drew closer. One hyena lunged forward and slashed his side with its claws. He squealed and called desperately for his mother. The herd heard his cry, and the massive cow charged toward him, but the distance was too great – she would never make it in time.
And at that very moment, the baby elephant received help from him…
Suddenly, the ground shook under even heavier footsteps. From behind a hill appeared a figure the hyenas had least expected to see. It was an old rhinoceros – huge and fearsome. His skin was covered in scars, and his horn gleamed like a sharp spear.
He stormed straight into the circle, scattering the hyenas like rag dolls. The enraged giant stomped his foot, and one of the hyenas tumbled away. The others, sensing the danger, began to retreat and finally fled howling into the distance.
The calf trembled, but the rhinoceros gently lowered his head, as if to check whether the little one was unharmed. A moment later, the mother reached her baby, wrapping him in her trunk and trumpeting with joy.
Gratefully, she reached out to the rhinoceros, but he only snorted and disappeared back into the bushes – like an invisible guardian of the savanna.
From that day on, the herd carried a legend: sometimes fate sends help exactly when you least expect it.