A mischievous young elephant in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park brought laughter to onlookers when it splashed its unsuspecting parents with water, sparking a playful chase.
The calf’s antics began with a surprise squirt of water aimed at its parents, who responded by trotting after the little troublemaker.
The pursuit was short, with the older elephant quickly catching up, wrapping its trunk around the calf’s tail as if to return the playful gesture.
Australian visitors Dalida and Andrew Innes witnessed the scene and captured the joyful moment on camera.
Dalida, 43, described the experience: “We were waiting by the watering hole, hoping to spot zebras, but we were thrilled when a herd of elephants showed up instead. The zebras quietly stepped back, watching the elephants happily plunge into the mud.”
The couple spent about two hours observing the herd. Andrew, 48, explained, “We saw a baby elephant spraying an older one, who then chased it through the mud. They were obviously just having fun, and the calf was completely safe.”
About 20 meters from the watering hole, Dalida shared her respect for the animals’ space: “We never felt in danger; we were mindful of keeping our distance. One lesson we learned was if an elephant charges, standing still signals you’re no threat, and they’ll likely move away.”
This delightful glimpse into elephant behavior highlighted these majestic animals’ playful, family-oriented side in their natural environment.
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