Playful Baby Elephants Enjoy a Mud Bath at Addo Elephant National Park

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In this heartwarming scene, young elephants can be seen slumped next to each other, thoroughly exhausted after a delightful session of splashing around in the mud.

The precious moment was captured by photographer Annie Laing, 64, at the Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

Making a splash! This baby elephant dunks their feet into the mud, making the water surge into the air

Annie, a resident of Colchester, South Africa, visited the park on a hot day in October, knowing that the animals would seek water to cool off.

The little elephants at the park are known for their playful and mischievous behavior, and Annie was overjoyed to share their playful antics with the world.

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Trunks up! Another elephant lifted their trunk as they enjoyed the muddy water in snaps taken by photographer Annie Laing, 64

The mud in which the elephants frolic serves multiple purposes for these gentle giants. It is a fun and entertaining way for them to beat the heat and acts as a protective layer against insect bites and the scorching sun. When bathing, the elephants often roll around in the mud or use their trunks to spray it on their bodies.

“I was lucky to be privileged enough to live in an estate directly opposite the Addo south gate,” Annie shared. “The baby elephants resemble young children, engaging in playful shoves and enjoying each other’s company.”

As the temperature soared, more elephants joined in the water festivities, playfully splashing around and covering themselves in mud. This natural cooling mechanism helps them stay comfortable in the sweltering heat for longer.

Sharing the fun! Annie said it was nice to see the elephants playing and having a good time as she took photos and videos of them
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Annie, an experienced photographer who has covered sports events and World Cup matches, expressed her passion for wildlife photography. “Shooting wildlife is my first love,” she said, capturing these delightful moments of nature at its best.

Witnessing these adorable baby elephants play, and bond in the mud is a true testament to the beauty and innocence of the animal kingdom

Trunks up! Another elephant lifted their trunk as they enjoyed the muddy water in snaps taken by photographer Annie Laing, 64
Sharing the fun! Annie said it was nice to see the elephants playing and having a good time as she took photos and videos of them
Time for a snooze! This elephant decided to have a dunk in the mud and lie down next to their friends
Larking about! These two decided it was a better idea to drench each other with muddy water as they playfully raised their trunks
Off we go! This elephant fully committed to the rest, submerging their body into the water for instant relief from the harsh sun
Pamper time! Dunking their tusks in the water, these elephants take a dive into the mud, enjoying the refreshing dip
Shut eye! This playful elephant closes their eyes so they can fully relax in the cooling water
Hey, it's my turn! An impatient elephant climbed onto their friend as they clearly also wanted to reset and rejuvenate in the water
Mud everywhere! On the day that Annie took the images, it was 32C, and the elephants were in search of some milder temperatures so jumped at the chance to go in the mud
Cheeky! The group of elephants are camera-ready as they take their time bathing in the soothing mud in South Africa
Antics! Another pair of elephants are so zen and absorbed in the water, we cannot even see their faces
Carry on! The sun blazes down which is even more reason for these contented elephants to carry on with their water trip
Rolling! Elephants either roll around in the mud or spray themselves with it using their trunks when they bathe
Always a laugh! These elephants are having a great time splashing each other with mud and water and getting cooler in the process
Someone to lean on! This elephant bonds with its friend as it rests its head on them during their relaxing bath experience
Amazing! A happy elephant steps forward to have a walk through the muddy water in South Africa
Bath time! When elephants take a dip and put water or mud behind their ears, the circulating blood cools down faster as they can pump all their blood through their ears every 20 minutes
Trunkloads of fun! Another way of elephants cooling down even more is to spray water or mud behind their ears
Elephants prepare for their baths by stirring up the mud and mixing it with the water. They also churn the mud with their tusks or trunk up from the bottom
Easy! This adorable and cheeky elephant turned to the left as they lay down in the muddy water in South Africa
It's working! Elephants love to take a dip in the mud to cool off after standing around in the warm sun
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