Generally between children and animals there is a very special connection. In this story we see in a video when a 4-year-old Zimbabwean boy approaches a large elephant to pet it.
The magical moment was recorded by Lesanne Fowler, the little boy’s mother and a professional wildlife photographer.
The nearly 20-kilogram boy and the majestic multi-ton elephant were able to communicate without words, and love shone between them.
Elephants are naturally calm animals that enjoy grazing and sharing with their large herds. But like any animal in the wild, they can have a violent reaction when they feel threatened.
However, we cannot pigeonhole these animals by these reactions. They show their more docile side when they recognize that no harm is meant.
In many cases, they even seek to reciprocate the affection they are receiving. And that’s just what a wildlife photographer in Zimbabwe captured, when her 4-year-old son fearlessly reached out to pet one of the elephants.
“God, he’s amazing, so calm,” said Lesanne as she watched her son walk up to the elephant.
The majestic elephant wagged his tail and watched him as he ate grass. He even let himself be petted by the little boy showing his ability to discern and his intelligence to detect that he was not in danger.
The boy stood with his back to the animal which was a sign of trust for the elephant. It was truly amazing, both recognized that neither should be afraid of the other.
“Just speechless,” said Indian Forest Service officer Susanta Nanda in sharing the video.
Lesanne didn’t plan for her son to walk up to the elephant, she was on a photo shoot and the boy walked up to him to say hello.
The video has gone viral on the networks with hundreds of reactions and comments about the show of kindness that exists in all beings.
According to wildlife studies, these animals become violent when they are in herds and pass safaris around them. They do their duty to protect the weaker ones and try to lead them away from danger. They can also get stressed by the noise of people and camera lights.
We cannot forget that they are in their own space and although they can share it with us, we should not invade it under any circumstances.
It is very important that these animals feel free and are not overwhelmed by the presence of a human being, and this little guy definitely did it very well. Share the touching video.
