by I love elephants because they are incredibly smart. They are also thoughtful and caring animals like this moment when elephants rushed to greet a new rescued baby elephant. Chendra is the smallest Asian elephant at the Oregon Zoo but her heart may be the biggest.
When zookeepers brought Chendra for her morning walk to visit the other animals in the zoo, Gus the sea lion swam to make an acquaintance. She obviously was glad to see him because she had a huge grin and stuck out her trunk to greet him.
And, as this heart-warming photo shows, Chendra was delighted that he did.
As Chendra grins and reaches out her trunk – seemingly by way of introduction – Gus lifts his head, appearing to want a tickle under the chin. Sadly, this was the first and last time the two met as the zoo stopped taking the elephants for morning walks.
According to the Zoo’s photographer, Michael Dunham, the pair was acquired in 2007. The image was not tampered with at all, he added.
The Asian elephant, which is smaller than its African counterpart, is in great danger of becoming extinct. They suffer from poaching, hunting, and a deterioration of their natural habitat. Stellar sea lions are also at risk, according to the zoo’s website. Between 1965 and 1994, their numbers dropped by more than 80 percent.
Protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, currently there are approximately 67,000 or less in U.S. waters. According to the zoo, pollution, habitat degradation, illegal hunting, boating, and fishing equipment entanglement are all dangers for sea lions in the wild.
While the elephants no longer take morning strolls according to an Oregon Zoo spokesperson, it still was great that Chendra was able to make a new friend. Please share this sweet photo of Chendra the elephant making friends with Gus the sea lion with your friends and family.
