Elephant Herd Surrounded Calves from Vicious Lion Attack [VIDEO]

Elephants are considered by experts not only as sociable mammals but also as intelligent ones.

For years, studies have shown that the so-called "gentle giants" are capable of maternal instincts and a sense of kinship with members of their herd and even other elephant families or groups.

This behavior of wild animals, although they can be aggressive, has been highlighted in viral videos in recent years.

One such video was reported earlier this week wherein a clip showing elephants coming to the rescue of calves from a potential lion attack went viral.

The footage was shared by an Indian wildlife official and confirms previous notions that elephants will do anything to protect their young, regardless of the predators.

Other videos about elephants in the past also show that elephants also call for help if their kin or offspring are stuck or needed help.

Aside from their proven philanthropy, elephants are significant members of the ecosystem since they can also flatten thick forest areas and grasslands, according to wildlife authorities.

Moreover, the giant mammals also serve as a source of food for other wild animals.

Elephants Rescue Calves

On Wednesday, July 12, Susanta Nanda, an officer from the Indian Forest Services, posted the video on Twitter.

In the 20-second clip, several adult elephants rushed to surround two calves in a forest area. The exact location and time of the remarkable event remains unclear currently.

The footage also showed some lions running around the elephant herd.

The video garnered at least 500,000 views as of Friday morning, received around 14,000 likes, and was retweeted more than 2,000 times.

The comment section were filled with people that were in awe of the behavior shown by the elephants. Meanwhile, another user said humans can learn from the animals, The Indian Express reported.

Bizarre as it may seem, the behavior exhibited by the elephant herd is not rare.

In fact, experts assert that elephants are "highly altruistic animals," which are ready to help not only their fellow species but also other animals and even humans when in danger.

This is possible as elephants are empathetic animals capable of discerning the emotions of others, according to the World Animal Protection.

Related Videos

As mentioned earlier, there have been related videos like the one posted by Nanda on Wednesday.

In 2017, a video posted by the YouTube channel The Dodo showed lions circling a trapped baby elephant in a water trough.

The calf was with a matriarch but was helpless amid the threat and the baby's mother seemingly called for help. The ordeal lasted until another elephant family arrived, which kept the lions from attacking.

In 2013, the YouTube channel Latest Sightings also posted a video of an elephant herd rescue when a calf also got stuck in a small body of water.

The baby elephant's struggle finally paid off after the herd's more than 10 minutes of determination, according to the channel. The decade-old clip also went viral and garnered more than 4.5 million views.