Babies are known to love playing with each other – and these baby elephants are no different.
These incredible photos show the unusual moment when four baby elephants weighing up to 300kg each decided to pile on top of each other.
Elephants had been drinking from the water banks of the Ghwarrie Dam in Addo Elephant National Park, Eastern Cape, South Africa, as their mother cooled off.
But like their human counterparts, the youngster’s fondness for play soon turned into an old rough and tumble – much to the displeasure of the herd’s matriarch.
After a while, they piled up. She quickly moved forward to break up the fun before the poor baby elephant at the bottom was injured.
The moment was captured by Ayesha Cantor, 46, during a day trip. She said: “We sat at the dam for over an hour, watching different family groups coming to drink and play and then leave.
“We were just about to leave when I just happened to glance back for one last look and quickly told my husband to stop again when I saw the two youngsters seemingly deep in conversation – another photo turned into the elephant bundle.
“I have heard and seen two babies playing in such a short time but never four and for such a long period of time as this”. She added.
‘Just like children, they test their boundaries. Playing will teach them to know their boundaries and how to behave in their family group.
“For us, we see exactly how humans play, so playful and so much fun. It’s amazing to see wild animals enjoying themselves in this way.”
And Mrs Cantor admitted that she wouldn’t have wanted to be the elephant at the bottom of the 900kg pile, adding:
“You can be sure I was very pleased that I wasn’t baby Ellie at the bottom of this particular pile.”
