Heartbreaking pictures show an elephant who refuses to leave her dead calf's corpse - refusing food and charging at anyone who tries to come near.
The mum has stayed put for four days after the youngster was killed after getting stuck in a swap.
Staff at the Gudalur forest range in Tamil Nadu, southern India, are becoming increasingly worried about the elephant, who has demonstrated her deep emotional bond with the deceased child.
She hasn't accepted any food, and isn't allowing anyone near the infant's body.
When forest workers tried to get close, the mother chased them away, The Hindu reports.
Forest range officer G. Ramakrishnan said he had never seen an animal remain at their dead calf's side so long.
He said: “I have seen many instances where the mother safeguards the carcass for a period of time.
"But, usually, they move away after a couple of days when the body starts decomposing.”
And district forest officer Sumesh Soman said concerns are now growing for the mum, as it is not clear if she has eaten anything since the cub died.
He stated: "It shows that the death of a member of the herd has a very deep and profound impact on the other elephants in the herd, and also serves to reinforce the need to conserve and protect these amazing animals."
The elephant has not tucked into any food left for her by forestry staff.
Mr Ramakrishnan told The Pioneer that members of the herd had attempted to pull the calf out from the swap when it ran into difficulties on Sunday.
Initially five elephants were standing guard around the carcass, but four have since left, he said.
It is thought that the baby which died was the mum's first infant.
