A wildlife rescuer dressed up as a bird mom to encourage a rescued chick to drink water.
Siya Nyawo from the FreeMe Wildlife Midlands Centre, South Africa, has gone to extensive lengths to help a baby-wattled crane thrive.
Adorable footage shows Siya dressed in a full bird costume leaning down over a pond with the recovering chick watching close by.
Using a fake beak on his hand, Siya reached into the water, pretending to drink until the two-month-old bird quickly followed suit.
FreeMe CEO Wade Whitehead said: “This wattled crane chick is now two-and-a-half months of age. The bird was rescued from the wild with a broken left leg.
“With very little chance of survival and a critically endangered bird in South Africa, it was decided to bring it into FreeMe Wildlife to see what could be done for the chick.
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“We work with the entire spectrum of Indigenous wildlife, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.
“We have developed species-specific techniques, props and puppets, which we use extensively in our rehabilitation processes.
“This ensures wildlife is kept wild throughout their rehabilitation journey with us until their release back into the wild.”
FreeMe Wildlife was founded in 2007 and does not permit the taming, petting or habituation of any of its patients undergoing treatment and care.
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Wade said: “FreeMe Wildlife specializes in professional, science-based wildlife rehabilitation.
“The puppet and suit, in this case, together with simulated natural environments inside the enclosures, are an essential part of the rehabilitation process.
“This prevents imprinting, ensuring recognition and later integration with its own species in the wild and reducing stress.
“All staff and volunteers are trained in these techniques to ensure successful rehabilitation of all species in our care, which are returned to the wild, as wild animals, with minimal corruption from humans.”