Every monsoon, pet parents worry about muddy paws, skin infections, and keeping their dogs and cats safe. But while our pets usually have someone waiting at home to care for them, wild animals face the season very differently. This year's floods in Assam left a baby elephant separated from his mother and herd, alone in the floodwaters of Kaziranga National Park. His rescue saved his life, but what happened afterward became the most remarkable part of his journey.
Seasonal floods have split the baby elephant calf from his mother and herd, leaving him alone in the flood waters of Kaziranga National Park, Assam, on July 15, 2026. They named him Gotonga. Ropes had been tied around parts of his body as a temporary safety measure to stop him from wandering into nearby trenches and wells before rescuers arrived.
Although he looked barely a month old, Gotonga weighed 121 kilograms. He was taken to the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC), run jointly by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), the Assam Forest Department, and IFAW. There, vets monitored him around the clock and fed him milk formula every three hours. The next day the rescued elephant calf was alert and responding.
However, medication wasn't all there was. Elephant calves rely on their families for emotional support, learning, and comfort.
Fortunately, Gotonga found that support in Monikuntal, another rescued elephant calf who had arrived at CWRC in 2024. Once frightened and alone, Monikuntal had grown into a healthy young elephant after a year of care.
The two calves were introduced gradually, allowing them to see, hear and smell each other before they met. They quickly became inseparable, spending their days walking through the forest, splashing in streams, and resting together.
While Monikuntal is slowly becoming self-sufficient, Gotonga still requires milk every three hours. Whenever Gotonga seems unsure, Monikuntal quietly stays by his side. The Assam flood took Gotonga away from his family but the same incident also introduced him to a fellow who understood him well.
CONCLUSION
- Not all problems require a solution. Sometimes, your presence is more valuable than your advice.
- It takes time to heal, and no one should have to heal alone. Standing beside someone can give them the courage to keep moving forward.
- Unexpected connections are often made during life's toughest moments. The people we never planned to meet can become the ones who matter most.
- Compassion is shown through actions, not words. If someone is in need, your presence can say more than words can say.
- Every act of kindness creates hope. A single act of kindness can make a difference in the life of a person, a pet, or a wild animal.
Gotonga lost his family to the Assam floods. What he found instead was a companion who reminded him that even after loss, no one has to face the journey alone.
