Images recently captured at Kenya’s Masai Mara National Park show an extremely emotional moment when a baby elephant continuously clings to and cries next to the body of its recently deceased mother.

A 10-month-old baby elephant named Roi stands next to the body of his mother, his face sad and his eyes downcast. Roi’s mother died when a group of illegal poachers broke into the park and killed the innocent elephant. 

For hours, Roi continuously used his trunk to wake his mother up.

But what Roi received was only despair and pain because the mother elephant could not wake up again.

Roi’s eyes were filled with tears because of the great pain and loss.

Just 24 hours earlier, Roi and his mother were still playing happily together.

After his mother’s death, Roi joined another herd of elephants, but the poor elephant had to face a lack of mother’s milk. 

Knowing that, wildlife experts took Roi to an animal conservation center in Nairobi National Park to take care of the baby elephant.

Roi was loaded onto a helicopter and transported to a new location.

“Roi is getting better but is still traumatised by the death of his mother,” said Rob Brandfold, the centre’s director. “The staff at the centre care for him and feed him milk, but his new environment makes him distrustful of people around him. It is only when he meets other elephants in the same situation that he feels more comfortable and secure.”

Image of Roi at his new home with friends in the same situation as him. 

Also at this center, many big elephants have cared for and loved Roi. As the days have passed, Roi has now gotten used to his new life and has become more independent and confident. 

A bright light appeared on Roi’s face. Poaching for ivory is a widespread problem in Africa. It is estimated that every 15 minutes an elephant is shot for its tusks.