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AFRICA —There are few things on Earth more adorable than a baby elephant. If you don't believe me, just watch the first few minutes of "Dumbo."
Elephant parents must be keenly aware of how beautiful and amazing their babies are, as they go to great lengths to keep them comfortable and protect them from danger. In the human world, some of these actions would be derisively referred to as "helicopter parenting." But in the animal kingdom, it's just beautiful.
At first, it's easy to miss what's happening in the video.
It looks as though it's just a group of adult elephants out for a stroll on their local roadway. But then you notice a lighter-colored figure nestled amongst their enormous legs. It's a newborn elephant being escorted around.
My first thought when I saw it was, "Wow, is there any place on Earth safer than being surrounded by five fully grown elephants?"
Watching their feet crash down around the little one, however, I soon changed my mind. If that were me shuffling around down there, I'd be racked with anxiety. One false move and I'd end up a pancake on the road.
