infonetorg: Elephant Rescue

Elephant fights off hyenas to save baby

This is the incredible moment an elephant came to the rescue of one of its babies being attacked by a pack of hyenas. The elephant is seen charging at the hyenas to ward them off its offspring. The photos were captured by American photographer Jayesh Mehta, 47, in the Savuti region of the Chobe National Park in Botswana.

A hyena watching the elephant calf in the Savuti region of the Chobe National Park in Botswana. (Jayesh Mehta/ Caters News).

Mehta said: "We heard cries of elephants in distress. On leaving the track and going towards the sounds in the bush we found a group of 12-14 hyenas chasing a herd of around eight elephants. (Jayesh Mehta/ Caters News)

The elephant herd included two adult females, a few teenagers, and a baby that was a few days old. The hyenas were trying to get at the baby - which had already been injured. (Jayesh Mehta/ Caters News)

The elephant is seen charging at the hyenas to ward them off its offspring. (Jayesh Mehta/ Caters News)

"It was amazing to see some of the hyenas coming from all sides to irritate the larger elephants - and other hyenas to try and grab the baby whenever the attention of the larger elephants was diverted," said the photographer. (Jayesh Mehta/ Caters News)