Bathing yourself in the dirt isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but this elephant seems to be having a good time.
The Asian elephant has a huge smile as it throws dried mud onto its back on the banks of the Yamuna River in New Delhi.
However, practice is not all child’s play.
Dirt is a natural and sometimes crucial behavior designed to protect their skin from insect bites and sunburn – a welcome relief in an area where temperatures hit 37C today (100F).
The dust provides welcome relief from insect bites and the sun in an area where temperatures currently reached at least 37CThe practice isn’t all child’s play as the behavior of dusting designed to protect their skin from insect bites and sunburnThe elephant appears to have a huge smile on its face while covering itself in dirt on a searingly hot day in the Indian capitalAn Asian elephant is pictured throwing dry mud onto its back on the banks of the Yamuna River in New Delhi, India