Baby Elephant Splashing Around in Mud at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo Is So Irresistible
It there's one thing that most people can agree on, it's how adorable baby animals are. I could watch them all day! If you need a serotonin boost today, this video that Fresno Chaffee Zoo shared at the end of August of their baby elephant playing in the mud for bath time will do it. I can't get enough of it!
The video starts with the male calf and his mom Nolwazi in their enclosure. The baby found a small mud pit and slips and slides into it. He runs to mom and for a quick bite of food before heading back for more. He's so clumsy and adorable and I want to see more!
Sign me up to get a baby elephant! I live in Georgia but would be willing to fly to Fresno just to watch this little guy play. I'm in love! Commenters had a lot to say about Fresno Chaffee Zoo's sweet baby elephant. @justalilbit87 said the same thing I was thinking, "He's so tiny! I'd be the guy with the phone. I'd never get any work done!" @Mierana made me laugh when she asked, "Do they have mini elephants like the mini cows? Asking for a friend." @AJ pointed out, "This is adorable!! Those cute ears flapping! He is having the best time!" and @Rook added, "That is a perfect little frolic!"
Related: Baby Elephant With Big Attitude Can’t Resist Showing Everybody Who’s Boss
Cool Elephant Facts
While bringing home a baby elephant sounds like a dream, it would be nearly impossible for us to keep up with their dietary needs. Young elephants nurse from their mothers for the first three to six years and consume approximately 11 to 15 pounds of milk each day. I'm not even sure where you could get that much elephant milk each day! While the babies nurse, they also eat vegetation, although much less than what an adult eats.
Why was this baby elephant flapping his ears? He could've been trying to cool himself off or he could've been expressing his excitement. Elephants flap their ears to show rank, anger, as a warning, or to help them hear. But in this case, I'm guessing that baby is just excited about getting a bath!
Elephants bathe in mud for a few different reasons. It helps cool them off and regulate body temperature. Rolling in mud helps protect their skin from insect bites and sun rays. Elephants have extremely thick skin but, believe it or not, it's pretty delicate and they can get sunburns.
Another interesting elephant fact: Female elephants will stay with their herd for life, yet males head out on their own at about 12 to 14 years of age. This little guy may not ever leave mom, or he may be taken to another zoo to mate with other elephants. Conservation efforts are important to zoos, and they spend a lot of time studying elephant behavior (as well as recording the baby elephant's growth and development). They also help advance elephant numbers through reproductive biology.
I hope the Zoo continues to share updates on this little elephant because he's adorable. I look forward to watching him grow and explore his world. I bet the next update we get is about his name. I wonder what they'll call him!
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