Baby Elephant Stuck in a Watering Hole? Send in the Chopper!

After a baby elephant became trapped in a man-made watering hole, a rescue team from the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust swooped in to rescue the animal and return it to its mother.

The rescue took place in Kenya’s Tsavo East National Park. The dramatic event was filmed by Christian Heimann, a tourist who was visiting the park from Switzerland with his wife and friend. (See another touching elephant reunion.)

Such man-made watering holes are relatively common in African parks around lodges, says Joyce Poole, a National Geographic explorer who studies elephant behavior.

“Often lodges will build a water trough or hole to attract animals so guests can sip their drinks and watch wildlife,” says Poole, who watched the clip of

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