Cuteness Alert – Baby Elephant Antics
Baby elephants have a monoploy on cuteness in my opinion. My Maasai guide, Kupai, and I came across a mother elephant and her tiny newborn out on a game drive on the Maasai Mara. The calf was full of personality and confidence. When we approached it flared its ears and raced towards us in a mock charge.
A few feet outside of the protective circle of its mother, he had a quick change of mind and raced back to mama. He snuggled up against its mother’s leg for security just like toddlers do.
Courage restored, the calf turned and practiced another brave stance facing the open savannah and the great unknown.
Kupai and I were entertained by the calf’s antics. Learning to co-ordinate a tiny trunk takes practice. Determined, the calf did his best to imitate how its mother wrapped her trunk around greens then used her foot to uproot a plant. Step one, figure out which leg to use to get the job done.
Nope, not the back leg.
Although a grown elephant can pick up a single leaf with its trunk, it’s not so easy for a novice. The calf tried to use his legs to help uproot a vine just like mama did. If at first you don’t succeed try, try, again.
The little elephant soon tired of the foraging challenge. After a couple of attempts with the pesky vine, he ran back to mama for an easier snack.
There’s got to be some milk here somewhere. This meal was just the right height with good gravity flow.
Watching this baby elephant exploring the world from the security of its mother’s watchful eye was delightful. Here’s a 30 second video of some of its antics. Note how the mother stops the calf’s bolt for protection with the lift of her back leg.
