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Playful Baby Elephant Shares Cuddle with Tourist in Heartwarming Encounter

  In a charming moment captured at a Thai elephant sanctuary, a young elephant enthusiastically approached a visitor for a cuddle, offering a playful interaction that delighted everyone watching The video shows a woman seated on the muddy ground when, unexpectedly, a baby elephant bounds over, eager to make her acquaintance. The audience can’t help but laugh as the calf cozily settles on her lap. A bystander comments that the woman seems to be enjoying the unusual encounter. However, the calf’s boundless energy keeps it moving around, occasionally shifting in ways that look a little uncomfortable for the woman. She smiles and strokes the baby elephant as it readjusts onto her thighs, embracing the affectionate moment. But when the calf rolls backward onto her shins, she lets out a soft “ow,” prompting a nearby person to step in and lend a hand. Unperturbed, the little elephant soon rolls f...

Gorilla Born in Captivity at Kent Sanctuary Becomes First to Father Babies in the Wild

In an extraordinary world first, Ima, a male gorilla born in captivity at a Kent sanctuary, has become the only zoo-born male gorilla to father babies in the wild—and with two different wild-born mothers. This remarkable achievement marks a significant milestone in wildlife conservation.

In a remarkable world first, Ima is the only zoo-born male gorilla ever to move to the jungle and father a baby with a wild-born female. In fact, he has done so twice ¿ with different mothers

Ima was born at conservationist Damian Aspinall’s animal park in Kent and relocated to Gabon, West Africa, in 2003 when he was just 18 months old. After a year of gradual acclimatization, Ima was released into the wild in Bateke Plateau National Park, where he began his new life as a free-roaming Western lowland gorilla, a critically endangered species.

Ima pictured in a nappy at conservationist Damian Aspinall’s animal park in Kent where he was born before he was relocated to Gabon, West Africa, in 2003, aged 18 months, to begin a new life

In 2021, conservationists spotted Ima with two wild-born females, Amvemande and Okeili, with whom he had formed his own troop after infiltrating another gorilla family. Both females have recently given birth, and conservationists are thrilled with this groundbreaking development. One of the babies, born to Okeili, has a distinctive feature—white fingertips, a rare pigmentation quirk.

One of Ima’s babies pictured with mother Okeili in the tropical rainforests of Bateke Plateau National Park

This is the first time a zoo-born male gorilla has successfully fathered offspring with wild-born females. Damian Aspinall, who raised Ima and oversaw his relocation to Gabon, expressed his joy, saying, “This is a big event for me as I raised Ima and escorted him to Gabon. It’s taken this long to discover the births because males like Ima tend to keep new mothers and their offspring away from other gorillas or humans to protect them.”

Ima is pictured with his other baby and second mother Amvemande roaming through the rainforest together

Ima’s remarkable journey from captivity to thriving in the wild and becoming a father marks a significant success in conservation efforts. His story symbolizes hope for the preservation of endangered species and the importance of rewilding projects.

Victoria Aspinall, ex wife of wildlife conservationist Damian Aspinall, pictured meeting Ima in 2017 before his full release
Damian Aspinall and his ex wife Victoria pictured with Ima in the Gabon jungle
Baby Ima cuddling up to a conservationist as he was released into the wild at 18-months-old
Ima pictured in the jungle in 2003 after being released from Howletts Wild Animal Park in Kent
Ima pictured sitting with one of The Aspinall Foundation team in 2003
Source:dailymail

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