From Abandonment to Hope: Baby Elephant Airlifted to Safety in a Private Plane, Beginning a Journey to Love and Healing

It was all hands-on deck to off-load the 350kg of precious cargo at Kaindu airstrip

A CHARTER jet takes aboard an unusual trunk in its cargo hold — an ­elephant called Bupe.

The ten-month-old was abandoned by his mum for five days in the wilderness.

Bupe the baby elephant was rescued from certain death after he was abandoned by his mother

Bupe the baby elephant was rescued from certain death after he was abandoned by his motherCredit: ANNA TOLAN/GRI

It was all hands-on deck to off-load the 350kg mammal at Kaindu airstrip

He was taken to Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust nursery in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia.

The flight took nearly two hours and it was all hands-on deck to off-load the 350kg of precious cargo at Kaindu airstrip.

The resilient beast was taken to Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust nursery in South Luangwa National Park in Zambia

The resilient beast was taken to Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust nursery in South Luangwa National Park in ZambiaCredit: ANNA TOLAN/GRI

The rescue flight took nearly two hours

The rescue flight took nearly two hours

Game Rangers International are urging people to sponsor baby Bupe

Game Rangers International are urging people to sponsor baby Bupe