Twelve years ago, things weren't looking good for Galana.
The baby elephant was found by rescuers in a thick patch of bush, alone and scared. Her mother was gone, likely killed by poachers.
Luckily for Galana, she was brought to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT) in Kenya, where she was raised with love and kindness by the people there. In 11 years, she grew from that sad, frightened baby into a healthy, confident young adult.
In 2011, the folks at the DSWT released Galana back into the wild, where she belongs. They kept an eye on her, of course, and were happy to find that she'd joined a herd led by another former orphan. Galana finally had a real family!
The DSWT works to save the orphaned babies left behind and alone after poachers cruelly killed their parents. Elephants are under constant threat from poachers as well as habitat destruction and climate change, so dedicated people like this really make a world of difference for them.
But even after working with elephants every day, the folks there always find new ways to be inspired and amazed by these incredible creatures. And they were amazed by Galana when she returned for a very special reason.
[H/T: The Dodo]
Twelve years ago, Galana was brought to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust as an orphan. The DSWT rescues baby elephants like Galana and like Jotto, pictured here, after they're left orphaned by poachers.
Galana was released into the wild in 2011, and has been living happily with a herd ever since. But they didn't know how happily…
Until she returned for a visit one night!
And not only did she return, but she surprised everyone by giving birth right at dawn to a healthy calf.
Elephants returning for a visit isn't uncommon, the DSWT says, and is more common among female elephants than males.
They supposed that Galana wanted a safe place to give birth, and so came back to the people who cared for her when she was young.
Here, she helps her baby get the hang of walking.
As soon as the elephants saw Galana, they rushed out to greet her and the new baby.
The first one out was Laragai, who still lives at the sanctuary, but plenty more quickly followed.
Soon, all the orphans were out celebrating the return of their friend and the birth of her baby.
The baby was named Gawa, which means "to share" in Swahili.
And of course, the humans were happy, too.
"We're happy to see Galana living the life she should and enjoying the magical milestone of becoming a mother for the first time," the DSWT said.
They'll also be providing protection for Gawa and the rest of the released elephants through aerial surveillance and by teaming up with anti-poaching organizations.
As for Galana and Gawa, the mother and daughter are doing fine and enjoying roaming the plains, just like elephants should.
Galana also looks like she got a snack, too.
Elephants are incredible for their intelligence and sense of community. They're really just like us!
And the DSWT is making sure that they get a fighting chance in a sadly dangerous world.
You can learn about their other rescued elephants on their website and Facebook page, and consider donating to keep elephants like Galana, Gawa, and all the rest healthy and safe.
If you consider elephants some of the most beautiful and majestic creatures on Earth, be sure to SHARE this incredible story with your friends!
