Elephants are incredibly complex animals. They are highly sensitive and intelligent, they experience joy and grieve just like humans, and they value family, staying in close-knit herds and caring deeply for their young. Unfortunately, whether it’s due to poaching, captivity in zoos and circuses, or the tourism trade, many elephants get separated from their loved ones. Since elephant families are so tightly woven, when babies are separated from their parents, they deal with an unimaginable stress and depression.

Thankfully, there are organizations in existence that care for abandoned elephants and even work to one day reunite them with their families. In the video above, we see young elephant, Zuki, being reunited with his mother, Bua Jaan, thanks to the incredible efforts of the Elephants Asia Rescue and Survival Foundation. After four years apart, it’s no surprise that the pair and the other family members seem to have a lot to talk about and catch up on! Their body language and the way they interact verbally really gives us a glimpse into the intricate lives of these creatures. We’re so happy they made their way back to each other! We hope one day everyone will be able to realize how rich and unique each one of their lives are and know that exploiting them is nothing short of a crime.

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