Why This Elephant Couldn’t Make Friends
Apr 13, 2026
Long’uro struggles to connect with other elephants after losing his trunk as a baby. Play is how young elephants build bonds, but without a trunk, even that becomes a challenge.
"Baby Steps | Becoming Elephant: The Orphans of Reteti" premieres Wednesdays, April 8, 2026.
The bonds that play creates help build a tight-knit group.
Crucial for survival in the wild.
The trunk is key to all of this.
It's used to touch, comfort, and build connections.
You can see Loro is isolated from others.
Sometimes you can see him becoming desperate.
He's struggling to find friends.
So I think that's why Loro isolates himself from the others.
Because he knows that he's a disabled boy.
Longoro's friendship with herd mate Lorosoi has been going from strength to strength.
The pair regularly engage in play.
But Longoro still can't mount.
Yeah, Longoro wants to actually climb over the back of Lorosoi.
And training himself to try many different ways.
Like putting the front feet on top of rocks.
By taking advantage of elevated positions, Longoro is training his core muscles and honing his balance.
Loro's persistence has finally paid off.
He's a very clever boy.
Yeah, actually this is amazing.
Overcoming his disability, Longoro has found his place in the herd.
And will continue to learn and grow.