Ben is in the bush with his game-warden father. They see a family of elephants in distress, led by Kubwa and her daughter, Temba. Having survived a crocodile attack, Temba's calf has fallen into swamp mud and is drowning. The elephants struggle to rescue him. Ben gathers his courage for a crawl over treacherous mud to attach straps while his father winches the elephant out. Temba learns the smell of these humans who helped, and the elephants move on.
But ivory poachers attack, kill Kubwa, cut off her tusks and depart. Temba is now leader: she gathers the others to perform funeral rites.
Ben and his father stumble into the poachers' camp and are taken prisoner. Only Ben's link with Temba can save them now…
