There's nothing quite like a mother's love. And elephants are no different than humans in this case, as seen in this breathtaking photo series.
According to the Rex USA photo caption, the shots were taken in Spain's Cabarceno Wildlife Park in Cantabria, when a family herd came across a watering hole that the whole group had to cross over.
Captured by photographer Marina Caro, the shots show a determined elephant mother rescuing her month-old calf trapped in the mud, notes MSNBC.
Cano comments on Rex USA, "The younger one started to slither because of the mud. His mum saw it in seconds and helped him before he fell deeper into the water and what would have been a much more difficult situation. She crouched in the mud and picked him up with her trunk ... It was magical to see what seemed like human behaviour - a mother helping her baby. It was breathtaking and I felt honoured."
Although this baby elephant was rescued, other elephants face an uncertain future due to habitat loss and degradation. Another major threat to the species, poaching linked to the illegal ivory trade, was highlighted in a recent Discovery Channel documentary.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species currently lists Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) as "endangered," while African elephants (Loxodonta africana) are presently listed as "vulnerable."
For more information about elephants and how to help them, visit the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust or Save the Elephants.
Check out the drama of the elephants below.
Photos courtesy of Marina Cano, Solent News/Rex USA
