Small gestures of kindness can go a long way. Think about it. You might be having a hard day, when suddenly someone gives you a warm smile. Or someone sees you struggling with shopping bags and lends a helping hand. Small simple gestures like this are what help us maintain our faith in humanity.
Over the years, we have witnessed numerous instances where individuals go to extraordinary lengths to rescue their beloved pets or other vulnerable animals facing danger.
This wonderful story story you’re about to read revolves around a remarkable incident involving a 100-pound elephant calf and a man who carried it to safety…
Back in December of 2017, Palanichamy Sarathkumar was employed as a forest guard and stationed near Mettupalayam, India.
Mettupalayam is a small forest-laden city and Palanichamy was heading home after a night shift at his post. Suddenly, he got a call about a small incident in a nearby temple.
The caller told him that a female elephant went rogue and was blocking the road close.
Palanichamy rushed to the scene along with his colleagues. They burst a few firecrackers to direct the elephant back towards the forest. After the female left, they kept looking for other elephants in the vicinity, when they came to a halt.
That’s when they spotted a young elephant calf trapped in a narrow ditch. The poor baby looked disoriented and tired – maybe he was overwhelmed by the confined space of the ditch. Palanichamy and his companions decided to work together to remove a large boulder that was obstructing the calf’s path to freedom.
At the same time, they had to look out for the mama elephant nearby, who had been anxiously searching for her missing baby. Given the calf’s weakened state, the forest guard faced an even more challenging task as they worked to reunite the calf with its concerned mother.
After they managed to remove the boulder, Palanichamy and his hard-working companions carefully lifted the baby elephant out of the ditch.
Their intention was to transport the calf to the other side, to reunite it with its anxious mother. However, they were to pause the rescue operation.
Mother elephants can be extremely protective and aggressive if they sense a threat against their babies. During this critical moment, Palanichamy made the courageous decision to shoulder the responsibility alone.
He chose to put his own life at risk rather than jeopardize the safety of all four individuals involved in the rescue effort.
Palanichamy, a sturdy six-foot-tall man weighing 176 pounds (80kg), bravely hoisted the 100kg elephant calf onto his shoulders, carrying it for approximately 50 meters. He carefully placed the baby elephant near a water hole, hoping that its distressed mother would return to find her lost child.
Hours ticked by, but the mother elephant did not make an appearance. Despite their patience, there was no sign of her. Disheartened, they decided to leave, still holding onto the hope that the mother would eventually return.
Returning the next morning, they discovered that the calf had vanished. In its place were the small prints of the calf beside the larger footprints of an adult elephant. Palanichamy and his team concluded that the mother and child had reunited during the night and moved on together.
Social media was abuzz with tweets hailing Palanichamy for his bravery and unwavering commitment, dubbing him as the man who carried an elephant.
Elephants are known for their intelligence, social bonds, and advanced behavior among large animals. They typically thrive in herds but may venture out alone or leave the group if their calves become separated or stranded.
Over the years, we have seen numerous conflicts between humans and elephants, but Palanichamy Sarathkumar is working hard to proctect these precious animals at any cost. As an anti-poacher, he served the forest department with dedication and distinction. Palanichamy will forever be remembered as the hero who carried an elephant, a symbol of compassion and courage in the face of adversity!
