An entertaining scene unfolded as orphaned elephants engaged in a playful mud fight, covering themselves in red dust.

The captivating display occurred at Tsavo East National Park in Kenya, where these elephants, under the care of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust at Ithumba, found joy in rolling around and tossing trunkfuls of red earth on themselves.

The thick layer of mud and dust serves a practical purpose, protecting the elephants’ skin from the sun and pesky insects.

Environmental consultants Mick Baines, 63, and Maren Reichelt, 36, had the opportunity to witness this comical spectacle. Baines described the elephants as looking “almost like clowns putting on make-up.”

Baby Elephants Turn Red After Playing In The Dirty Mud 1 1 — Elephants have a whale of a time covering themselves in dust and turning themselves red. Source: Daily Mail

These baby elephants are part of a group of orphans at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which focuses on rehabilitating them after experiencing trauma caused by humans.

Eventually, they are released back into the wild. One of their favorite daily activities is visiting the deep mud bath enclosures, where they can play and have fun.

Baines praised the project’s success in reintegrating the orphans into their natural habitat. He mentioned that the number of elephants admitted to the trust has risen due to increased ivory demand from Asia, leading to a surge in poaching incidents.

Baby Elephants Turn Red After Playing In The Dirty Mud 2 — Rusty: The elephants get down and dirty at Tsavo East National Park in Kenya. Source: Daily Mail

Baby Elephants Turn Red After Playing In The Dirty Mud 3 — Mud bath: This baby jumbo has taken on the color of the soil in their surroundings. Source: Daily Mail

Additionally, habitat loss resulting from agricultural expansion contributes to human-elephant conflicts.

Baines was most surprised by witnessing ex-orphans, who had successfully transitioned back into the wild, returning to visit the enclosures.

One of them, a 12-year-old female named Nasalot, even interacted with Baines and Reichelt. Other former orphans brought their wild companions to the fences and mud baths, showcasing the positive impact of the trust’s efforts.

Baby Elephants Turn Red After Playing In The Dirty Mud 4 — Environmental consultant Mick Baines with the orphans, who flung trunk-fulls of red earth over their massive bodies after enjoying a mud bath. Source: Daily Mail

Baby Elephants Turn Red After Playing In The Dirty Mud 5 — Kicking up a storm: The elephants were part of a herd of orphans being cared for at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust at Ithumba. Source: Daily Mail

Baby Elephants Turn Red After Playing In The Dirty Mud 6 — Exhausted: A baby elephant takes a rest after the mud fight. Source: Daily Mail

Baby Elephants Turn Red After Playing In The Dirty Mud 7 — Muddy good time: The beasts wallow in a mud pool, leaving them covered in grey stuff. Source: Daily Mail

Canidae Pet Food Reviews: An In-Depth Look

Choosing the right pet food is crucial for the health and well-being of our furry friends. In this blog post, we'll delve deep into Canidae pet food, a popular choice among pet owners, and provide an in-depth review based on various sources.

Canidae is a well-known brand in the pet food industry, offering a range of products designed to cater to pets of all ages, breeds, and sizes.

Product Range:

Canidae All-Life Stages (Dry): This vet-formulated product suits dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes. It's available in both dry and wet formulas.
Canidae Pure: A limited-ingredient diet crafted for dogs with food sensitivities. Each recipe typically includes 7 to 10 ingredients.

Key Ingredients

The Canidae All Life Stages Multi Protein Formula, which represents the brand's product line, contains ingredients like chicken meal, turkey meal, brown rice, peas, oatmeal, and barley. Chicken meal, the primary ingredient, is a meat concentrate with nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

Recalls and Safety

Canidae has had recalls in the past. It's essential to stay updated with the brand's recall history to ensure your pet's safety.

Customer Reviews

The Canidae Dog Food product line has earned an overall rating of 4.5 stars from The Dog Food Advisor. The Canidae All Life Stages Dog Food has received the Advisor's second-highest tier rating of 4.5 stars.

Pros and Cons:

Pros: High protein content, suitable for all life stages, contains beneficial ingredients like flaxseed and taurine.
Cons: It contains some controversial ingredients, and not all minerals are chelated, which might affect absorption.

Conclusion

Canidae All Life Stages is a grain-inclusive dry dog food that uses a notable amount of named meat meals as its primary source of animal protein. With an above-average protein content and a profile suggesting a significant amount of meat, it comes highly recommended for pet owners.