Orphaned after a lightning strike killed his parents’ herd, baby African elephant Eliot had a traumatic start to life.

But since being rescued on Christmas Day and taken to a sanctuary aged just three days old, he has been helped through the tough times – by two friendly older elephants.

Like Eliot, his new playmates Kadiki, aged three, and Beatrix, one, were also orphaned and narrowly escaped death.

Kadiki survived deep wounds after a lion attack at only a day old, while Beatrix was rescued after she became trapped in a gully.

Eliot the baby elephant (right) pictured with Beatrix (left) and Kadiki (centre) – all three are orphans