Brave Little Elephant Calf Spotted Without a Trunk; Inspires Hope and Heartache in Its Struggle to Survive

A baby elephant has been spotted wandering around the plains of South Africa with a missing trunk.

A young elephant has been spotted in Kruger National Park, South Africa, without a trunk

A young elephant has been spotted in Kruger National Park, South Africa, without a trunk

It's trunk was probably bitten off by a crocodile or a lion - or damaged in a snare, according to safari workers

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It’s trunk was probably bitten off by a crocodile or a lion – or damaged in a snare, according to safari workers

Filled with more than 100,000 muscles, an elephant trunk is both powerful and dexterous

Filled with more than 100,000 muscles, an elephant trunk is both powerful and dexterous

It's essential in the animal's survival. It's used for eating, drinking and even breathing properly

It’s essential in the animal’s survival. It’s used for eating, drinking and even breathing properly

The chances of an adult elephant surviving in the wild without its trunk are slim.