An adorable one-week-old elephant calf was caught playing in a muddy puddle at Chester Zoo with its family.
Nandita Hi Way joined five family members slipping and sliding around in the dirt – before mum Thi wiped her eyes and ears with her trunk.
Nandita was already two weeks old last Thursday.
The Hi Way family of Asian elephants at the zoo has four different generations.
Thi is also mum to Sithami, 18.
She is grandmother to Sundara, 11, and Bala, and great grandmother to Hari, three.
Team manager of elephants Andy Mckenzie said: “The animals often love playing in the mud, and it’s a good way for them to cool off on warmer days.”
A mud bath helps keep an elephant’s skin healthy and can usually be seen dust bathing in the sand and scratching on branches and rocks afterwards.
“Nandita, our new calf, is just a few days old, but she is enjoying a splash with the others right away.
“All of the family is always nurturing and provides lots of love for her, and mom Thi is on hand to support her 100%.” – if Nandita needs a bit of help wiping away some mud from her eyes and ears.
