An empathetic ostrich provides solace to orphaned elephants who have experienced the loss of their mother.
***
We all know that best friends come in a variety of shapes and sizes. But when David Sheldrick rescued a baby elephant named Giotto, no one could have thought that he would become the best friend for an ostrich.
A one-month-old elephant was rescued after it fell into a well. Rescuers sent him to an elephant shelter in Kenya, where he was able to recover, but was not yet ready to return to the wild.
There he met and befriended an ostrich named Pi.
The staff of the elephant shelter found Pi and her ostrich brother Pod when they were trying to save the baby elephant. Two ostriches needed help, so they were sent to a shelter together with an elephant.
Pod eventually returned to the wild, where he was able to join other wild ostriches. However, Pi continues to stay in the shelter with the other elephants, feeling completely at home. Obviously, Pi considers himself part of a herd of elephants.
When Giotto first met Pi, he saw how attentive the ostrich was to the baby elephant. A compassionate ostrich snuggles up to the baby elephant to help him heal and feel better. And, of course, the baby elephant is so happy when he hugs his feathered friend.
When Giotto first met Pi, he saw how attentive the ostrich was to the baby elephant. A compassionate ostrich snuggles up to the baby elephant to help him heal and feel better. And, of course, the baby elephant is so happy when he hugs his feathered friend.