Thirsty Elephant Digs for Water as Her Calf Watches in Amusement

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A mother elephant was spotted creating quite a spectacle as she dug for water in front of safari-goers at Kruger National Park, South Africa.

The resourceful elephant was filmed digging deep into the ground to reach an underground water source, transferring the water into her mouth while her calf observed the process.

The scene was captured by Patrick Ellis, 60, who was visiting the park with his wife, Topaz, and their son, Daniel, on September 15.

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The elephant dropped to her knees to quench her thirst, using her trunk to dig into the earth.

With local water sources running low due to drought, elephants in the area have adapted by finding water buried deep underground.

Onlookers watched as the mother elephant spent about 20 minutes drinking from the hole she had created.

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Elephants, known for their massive size, need significant amounts of food and water—often consuming over 40 gallons of water per day.

Their digging skills provide them with much-needed hydration and create water access points for other animals during droughts.

Elephants also cover vast distances in search of water during dry spells. Last year, a herd in Kenya’s Tsavo National Park was seen walking in a long line across the parched landscape before finally discovering a broken water pipe from which to drink.

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