An Unnamed Baby Elephant Builds a Heartwarming, Special Friendship

Not just among humans, but in the animal kingdom too, there are times when the life you save comes from an unforeseen friendship. In South Africa, for a baby elephant abandoned by its herd, the miracle was sparked by the bond with a friend.

You may have heard of animal friendships like a cheetah and a dog, a cat and a rabbit, or a lion and a bear. But what about the bond between an elephant and another animal? This is a true story from the Soola-Soola Wildlife Reserve. To restore the health of a sick, depressed baby elephant, a caring, special friend was needed.

The Baby Elephant Cast Aside by Its Herd

In South Africa, for reasons that remain uncertain (though debated), no one truly knows why this baby elephant was abandoned by its herd. Yet, without the rescue team that found the baby elephant, the elephant would not have survived. The nutrition-depleted infant’s rescuers understood the fight to save its life would be grueling.

Fortunately, the rescue team was prepared. They planned to restore the baby elephant’s health and reintegrate it with a herd. At that moment, no one anticipated that the best treatment would complicate the plan.

The Importance of Growing Up in a Herd

For a baby elephant abandoned by its herd, the best option—when possible—was to return it to its original herd as soon as possible. The rescue team at the sanctuary knew which herd the baby elephant belonged to and tried to return it to its family.

But sadly, the herd repeatedly rejected the baby elephant. The team found themselves at a loss. In the end, they chose to care for the malnourished, sick baby elephant and, once it recovered, reunite it with the herd.

The Rescue Team Names the Baby Elephant Ellie

When the abandoned baby elephant was taken in at the Soola-Soola Wildlife Reserve in Zululand, it was only two years old. The rescue center’s rehabilitation team named the elephant with two names: Ubuntu and Ellie. Ellie quickly captured everyone’s hearts, but everyone knew they had to act quickly before it was too late.

First, the sanctuary had to perform a comprehensive health assessment. Before starting treatment, they needed to check for any hidden issues.

Ellie’s Survival Rate Was Only 1%

During the health evaluation, the medical team discovered Ellie carried several serious illnesses. The most severe was an umbilical hernia infection. Wild elephants with this disease have a 99% mortality rate. Everyone, including the medical team, faced intense pressure, but no one could give up on Ellie.

The team devised a treatment plan with the aim of Ellie someday running again with her herd. Still, at this stage, rehabilitation would be extremely challenging. Ellie was beloved, and everyone worried about her future.

Nonstop, 24-Hour Care for Ellie

To maximize Ellie’s chances, the sanctuary formed a dedicated 24/7 Ellie care team to respond to any emergency. Everyone united to save her life, watching her progress closely.

Yet, as treatment continued, Ellie’s health proved worse than expected. New problems surfaced even after rescue. This was a very serious situation, and the team worked hard to find solutions.

Ellie Would Not Take Milk

For a baby elephant, milk is everything. It’s packed with nutrients and fats essential for growth. But soon after treatment began, Ellie stopped accepting milk. This was a major problem.

The team tried various milks from different regions like Zimbabwe and Kenya, hoping Ellie would take something. But no matter what milk they offered, Ellie refused.

Coconut Oil to the Rescue

Desperate to help, the team mixed protein and minerals into coconut oil and offered it to Ellie. Miraculously, Ellie began drinking it, and the team breathed a sigh of relief. Ellie grew healthier day by day.

As Ellie started drinking coconut oil and slowly recovered, the rehabilitation team saw light at the end of the tunnel for the difficult road ahead. With the milk problem solved, they felt capable of handling future challenges.

Elephants Can Be Depressed Too

Ellie’s caretaker described her as “particularly weak and particularly ill.” While Ellie was regaining health, happiness seemed absent. She showed no interest in anything and appeared listless.

The care team sensed something was off and needed a solution quickly. Ellie wasn’t just depressed—she suffered serious psychological trauma.

A Difficult Start: Losing a Family

Ellie’s early life was harsh. For an animal to grow up in the wild is tough, and being abandoned due to illness makes it far harder. Even as her physical health improved, her mental and emotional recovery lagged.

Thus, the medical team decided Ellie needed new friends. In the animal world, and especially among elephants, social time with others is crucial, yet at this moment Ellie had only humans around her.

Who Will Ellie Choose Among Many Animals at the Reserve?

The Soola-Soola Reserve houses many animals. Leopards and crocodiles were unlikely friends, but zebras and buffaloes might accept a baby elephant as their own.

Still, even when the team introduced Ellie to various animals, she showed little interest. They were running out of hope. The last animal Ellie met was a dog named Dooma.

Dooma: A Good Guy

Ellie showed almost no interest in other wildlife at the reserve, but the team held onto a glimmer of hope with Dooma. Dooma is a male German Shepherd, formerly a police dog. He lived on the sanctuary grounds, free to roam, and could play with other animals.

Though Dooma’s police-dog past might make him seem a lone wolf, he was in fact very gentle with the other animals at the reserve.

Ellie and Dooma: A Perfect Match

After Ellie and Dooma became friends, Ellie’s mood lifted. She seemed happy, and she showed interest in playing. The rehabilitation team noted, “We introduced Dooma and Ellie on a sandy mound, and the elephant soon regained her vigor.”

Weeks later, Ellie was lively and happy, and her bond with Dooma deepened every day, till they were inseparable. The rehab team at the sanctuary had found Ellie’s best possible friend.

Ellie’s Remarkable Recovery Continues

With Dooma by her side, Ellie’s recovery progressed. The bond with Dooma not only brought friendship but also a new sense of purpose and joy. They spent their days playing on dirt piles and napping under nearby trees.

Some staff even observed that Ellie seemed to smile when Dooma ran toward her. Dooma brought more than friendship—he became a guardian.

Dooma Becomes Ellie’s Father

Dooma took his role as Ellie’s friend seriously and, after a few weeks of playing together, began acting as a father figure as well.

Dooma stayed by Ellie’s side and even guided their play. He would nudge the young elephant to keep playing. Months after Ellie’s full recovery, the rehabilitation team faced a difficult decision regarding Ellie’s future.

Two Videos, Worldwide Attention

“Though Ellie’s initial survival rate at rescue was very low, this little elephant is still alive.” The rehab team marveled at Ellie’s miraculous recovery and her friendship with Dooma. For the first time since rescue, Ellie began to play happily. The team began recording their friendship on video and sharing it online.

Soon, Ellie and Dooma became a global sensation. While the team was thrilled, new challenges emerged: Ellie’s health had improved, but they still had to decide where Ellie belonged—back with the wild herd or at the sanctuary.

Reassessing Returning Ellie to the Wild

Initially, Ellie’s plan was to return to a herd as soon as she recovered. But seeing the bond with Dooma and witnessing its impact gave rise to reconsideration. Ellie could also be returned to the herd at the sanctuary.

In any case, the bond with Dooma would not be the same as before. Ellie could not be kept at the sanctuary indefinitely. Deciding what to do with Ellie—just as when she was first rescued—proved more difficult than expected.

Dooma’s Bond Gives the Team Time to Decide

The rehab team didn’t know what to do, but they didn’t need to rush. Keeping Ellie at the center forever wasn’t an option, but they could take their time to weigh the best options for Ellie’s future. Doom a’s deep bond made this possible.

Things began to look hopeful for Soola-Soola Wildlife Reserve. They faced every challenge head-on and, with Dooma’s help, succeeded in restoring Ellie’s health.

Ellie’s Health Takes a Sudden Turn

The keepers at Soola-Soola believed the worst was over and that Ellie’s future would be bright. Yet the scariest moment arrived: after months of treatment, Ellie fell ill again.

In January 2016, Ellie’s health declined, and the medical team focused on treatment. While they may not have had the mental health resources to address Ellie’s depression earlier, they did have a robust medical care system.

Ellie Again Struck by an Infection Thought to Be Defeated

When Ellie fell ill again, one of the caretakers took to Twitter to post, “To heal an elephant’s foot, we need colloid IV.” Medical supplies were scarce at Soola-Soola, and Twitter was their only way to request help.

What happened next? At the time Ellie was first rescued, one of her illnesses was sepsis. Months after her recovery, she contracted another infection that spread throughout her body. The medical team had not given up before, but this was a challenge beyond imagining.

Ellie Passed Away

Five months after Ellie seemed to have fully recovered, she succumbed to the infection just five days after it returned.

It felt as if the happy ending Ellie seemed about to have was snatched away right in front of everyone. The Soola-Soola team was heartbroken, doing everything possible to save her.

Ellie’s Spirit Roams with the Herd and in Freedom

Before Ellie died, the rehab team found solace in the belief that she had some happiness during her final days. When Ellie was first brought to the sanctuary, she was ill and depressed. It was a tragedy that she had a brief turn of happiness and health, which, in hindsight, was a blessing.

The sanctuary buried Ellie and posted, “Ellie rests in a special place at Soola, free now. Ellie’s spirit walks with the herd.” Indeed, though Ellie could not be saved from disease, the sanctuary received widespread support and would face the challenges ahead with hope.

Dooma and Ellie’s Bond: Never Forgotten

Ellie’s farewell was shared not only with millions of fans but also by Dooma, her friend and adoptive father. It’s unclear how Dooma processed Ellie's death, but he too grieved.

Yet Dooma did not wallow. He did not withdraw from caring for others at the sanctuary. For Dooma, Ellie was not his only friend; he would eventually find new companions at the reserve.