A charming video shows a baby elephant rolling around in a muddy puddle.
However, when it was time to leave, the little calf required a helping hand from its parents to climb out.
The scene unfolded at Mashatu Game Reserve, located on the border of Botswana and South Africa, where safari tourists stumbled upon a large herd of elephants. The group paused at the expansive muddy pool to cool off, indulging in the refreshing mud bath.
Amidst the adult elephants’ towering trunks and massive legs, the playful baby could be seen joyfully splashing around, attempting to get as muddy as possible.
The young elephant even rolled in the brown water, but its size prevented it from fully submerging.
As the herd signaled it was time to move on, the baby struggled to ascend the steep sides of the puddle. Fortunately, other elephants quickly stepped in to lend a helping trunk.
In September, photographer Janet Kleyn, 53, captured these heartwarming moments. She shared her enthusiasm for observing the elephants, especially the young ones. “I love watching the elephants play in the water—it’s so joyful,” she said.
Kleyn noted that she spent over an hour watching different herds come and go until she found this particular group, which lingered for 10-15 minutes.
She explained that elephants often enjoy submerging themselves on hot days and use mud as both an insect repellent and a natural sunblock.
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