Baby Elephant Who Fought For Life After Breaking Her Leg Is Back On The Mend

When elephant mother Hoa's calf was born, the youngster faced a fight for life after having its thigh bone broken.

The newborn was injured when older elephants tried to help her onto her tiny feet for the first time.

Being such a large animal, the broken bone left her life hanging in the balance, and she faced an operation at just two-days-old.

Vetinary surgeons operated on the calf in Leipzig, Germany - and thankfully, she's back on the mend after surviving the procedure.

The zoo declined to comment on the operation itself and its chances of success, but these pictures appear to show that the calf is back on her feet for the first time.

Experts realised the elephant was unwell last Wednesday when she refused to eat or drink and couldn't stand.

After taking her in for an x-ray, vets discovered that she had broken her thigh bone shortly after being born.

Zoo Director Jorg Junhold said last week: 'The situation is very serious and we don’t know what will happen to her. We cannot guarantee there will be a happy end. The animal has been receiving around the clock medical attention but it is very serious situation for such a young animal.'

He said it was clear that if the baby was to survive it needed an urgent operation which was difficult given that she was so young.

The operation he spoke about has been carried out and zoo keepers have been milking the elephant’s mother Hoa for milk to give the elephant vital vitamins and patiently trying to feed it so she can build up strength.

Mother Hoa, 29 - who killed her first born directly after giving birth two-years-ago - was separated from the youngster right after the birth leaving the newborn in the care of three other members of the herd.