Samudra, a 12-year-old Asian elephant, was recently captured on video having a splashing good time in a large mud puddle at the Oregon Zoo in Portland.
The playful elephant rolled and kicked in the mud as zoo staff sprayed him with water to help him stay cool on a warm day.
In the video, Samudra can be seen lying down, lifting his legs in the air, and fully submerging himself in the mud. He playfully kicked water around as he enjoyed his muddy bath, splashing anyone nearby.
The footage, shared on Oregon Zoo’s Facebook page, shows the young elephant’s energetic and fun-loving personality.
Samudra was born at the zoo in 2008 and is known for his love of water. He often swims in the zoo’s 160,000-gallon pool in Elephant Lands, a habitat he shares with his sister Lily. His name, “ocean” in Sanskrit, reflects his strong water connection.
Asian elephants, like Samudra, are the largest land mammals in Asia and are classified as an endangered species. They have three subspecies: Indian, Sumatran, and Sri Lankan.
These elephants are generally smaller than their African counterparts, with skin that ranges from dark grey to brown and patches of pink on their heads, ears, and trunks.
During the summer months, elephants use mud, clay, and water to cool down and protect their skin from the sun.
Research from the University of Geneva in 2018 revealed that the deep wrinkles in an elephant’s skin help water spread, cooling their bodies more efficiently.
Samudra’s playful mud bath not only helped him beat the heat but also brought joy to zoo visitors and staff alike.
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