Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/elk-saved-drowning-marmot/
An elk at the Pocatello Zoo in Pocatello, Idaho ended up being a hero when he saved the life of a drowning marmot.
Zookeepers noticed Shooter, the elk, acting strange and went to investigate. They watched, confused, as he pawed at his water trough and refused to walk away. They suspected he was going to climb into the trough to play in the water, but what he did was even more surprising.
After 15 minutes of staring at his water trough and pawing at the water, Shooter bent his head into the water and lifted out a Marmot.
Somehow Shooter noticed the little creature in distress and decided he had to help. After carefully placing the marmot in the grass, he gently nudged the rodent with his hoove, as if to check in on it.
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After a few gentle nudges, the wet marmot darted away, seemingly fine. It seems that Shooter was able to get him out of the trough before it was too late!
According to zoo officials, they believe that because the elk’s needs are being met on a basic level, he’s able to engage his brain in different ways, which is what allowed him to respond the distressed critter.
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In the wild, elk are focused on survival. But in a zoo where their needs are being met, they can use their brains to think about things beyond just staying alive. How cool is that?
Watch the video below:
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What do you think of Shooter and his heroic act? Let us know!
Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog
