Heartwarming moment abandoned baby elephant airlifted to safety of new home in private plane
A CHARTER jet takes aboard an unusual trunk in its cargo hold — an elephant called Bupe.
The ten-month-old was abandoned by his mum for five days in the wilderness.
The determined calf survived by staying close to water during the day and hiding in the bushes away from predators at night.
Bupe was rescued by a conservation group and airlifted to safety in a trailer.
He was taken to Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust nursery in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia.
The flight took nearly two hours and it was all hands-on deck to off-load the 350kg of precious cargo at Kaindu airstrip.
The charity aims to bring Bupe back to health and create a support network with an adopted herd.
They will eventually release him back into the wild.
Game Rangers International are urging people to adopt an elephant such as Bupe so they can continue their life saving work.