A delightful video shows an older elephant stepping in to calm a playful squabble between two young elephants.
Filmed by Michelle Broadhurst and Jacques Joubert during their visit to Kruger National Park in South Africa, the footage captures two energetic calves tumbling and rolling in the dirt while the rest of their herd drinks from a nearby watering hole.
In the video, an older elephant gently uses its trunk to separate the frolicking calves. Although the young elephants briefly pause, they quickly resume their playful wrestling once the older elephant turns away.
Michelle, 49, and Jacques, 55, who visit the park during less busy times to avoid crowds, noted that it’s common for baby elephants to engage in such play while their herd members drink and cool off.
The calves are still nursing from their mothers, which explains their focus on playing rather than drinking.
Michelle observed, “These playful interactions might indicate an early form of establishing dominance. Often, play fights occur between calves of similar sizes. When a larger calf engages with a smaller one, the smaller calf’s mother will usually step in.”
She continued, “We saw about 25 elephants of different ages at the watering hole, drinking and cooling off. While this behavior is typical, capturing it on video is rare.”
The video, showcasing the endearing behavior of the young elephants, highlights the dynamic social interactions within elephant herds at Kruger National Park.
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