They could have kept going, but they decided that the calf wouldn’t have to fight the current alone.
The rescue took place in North Bengal, India, after a baby elephant became trapped in a river and began to be swept away by the water. Seeing it in trouble, five fishermen stopped what they were doing and began following it from the riverbank.
For several kilometers, they tried to keep up with it until they found the right moment to approach. The current kept pushing the small animal along, and every minute made it harder to reach.
Finally, they managed to pull it out of the water and get it to safety. Then came the most eagerly awaited part: making sure it could reunite with its mother.
Images of the rescue began circulating on social media, and thousands of people praised the fishermen’s gesture, not only for stepping in, but for not giving up even as the current carried the calf farther and farther away.
Sometimes doing something extraordinary starts with a very simple decision: not looking the other way when someone needs help.