Despite only being able to walk on three legs, Vutomi the elephant shows that she has the strength of character by remaining with her herd and leading a regular life.
Dylan Pons, a 31-year-old multimedia developer for Zuka Private Game Reserve in South Africa, recently told LatestSightings.com about his amazing experience. Dylan and his group were driving from Satara when they came across an elephant herd at the Nsemani dam and experienced something genuinely amazing.
Vutomi was present and had been in the water, seeking solace and relief, Pons and his colleagues noticed as they watched the herd. “Where she had been in the water, we could see darker watermarks on her body. It was amazing to observe how she adjusted to her circumstances.
Vutomi is a magnificent elephant with an amazing tale. She only has three legs, and she walks with an obvious limp. Her loss of limb may have been from a predator attack when she was younger or it may have been caused by a snare, which is a fact of life for these animals.
Whatever the case, Vutomi is a survivor and a very extraordinary example of these wild animals’ ability to be resilient in the face of extreme circumstances.
Vutomi was surrounded by other elephants who came to meet her despite her wounds, showing a lovely sense of community and caring. “It was touching to witness how her herd welcomed and encouraged her. They truly shown a remarkable capacity for compassion and empathy.”The sighting ended with Vutomi disappearing into the bushes, following her herd. Pons expressed how rare this sighting was for him personally and how he worries that there could be more injured animals in the wild due to snares.
“If you see Vutomi or any other injured animals close to the road, I recommend giving them space to avoid adding any stress to their already difficult situation. We are in their environment after all. Respect is of utmost importance when dealing with these gentle giants.”
