In a heartwarming moment at a zoo in China, an elephant named Shanmai gently returned a toddler’s lost shoe after it fell into its enclosure.
The incident, captured on video, shows the intelligent animal using its trunk and foot to carefully pick up the tiny blue and yellow shoe before returning it to the young visitor’s hand.
Shanmai, whose name means “Mountains,” lives at the Shendiaoshan Wild Animal Nature Reserve in Weihai.
According to zoo staff, the elephant initially mistook the shoe for food but quickly realized it wasn’t something to eat. For its thoughtful act, Shanmai was later rewarded with a watermelon by the zookeepers.
In contrast to this charming interaction, a recent incident in South Africa involved a far less friendly elephant encounter.
Tourists on a safari in Pilanesberg National Park near Johannesburg were terrified when a bull elephant attacked their vehicle.
The elephant used its tusks to lift the bus carrying the tourists, slamming it back to the ground twice.
Visibly frightened passengers could be heard crying while the tour guide desperately yelled at the elephant to back away.
Despite his efforts, the animal, displaying signs of aggression like flapping ears and widened eyes, continued its assault. As the elephant prepared for a third strike, the driver pleaded for it to stop.
Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident, but it serves as a reminder to give wild animals space, especially during breeding seasons, as wildlife officials have advised.
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