This Mother’s Day, we’re celebrating one of the best mothers in the animal kingdom- the African elephant. These dedicated moms are pregnant for an average of twenty-two months. Babies are born weighing nearly 200 pounds and standing about three feet tall! Luckily mom doesn’t have to do it all on her own; an elephant’s matriarchal society means that sisters, aunts, cousins, and more step in to help. They teach the babies everything from foraging to how to use their trunks. In this adorable video from Save the Elephants, you can see how this baby elephant gets help from his mother and his extended family who use their trunks to help him move up the steep slope.
Elephant moms, today we tip our hats to you!