In a charming moment captured at a Thai elephant sanctuary, a young elephant enthusiastically approached a visitor for a cuddle, offering a playful interaction that delighted everyone watching The video shows a woman seated on the muddy ground when, unexpectedly, a baby elephant bounds over, eager to make her acquaintance. The audience can’t help but laugh as the calf cozily settles on her lap. A bystander comments that the woman seems to be enjoying the unusual encounter. However, the calf’s boundless energy keeps it moving around, occasionally shifting in ways that look a little uncomfortable for the woman. She smiles and strokes the baby elephant as it readjusts onto her thighs, embracing the affectionate moment. But when the calf rolls backward onto her shins, she lets out a soft “ow,” prompting a nearby person to step in and lend a hand. Unperturbed, the little elephant soon rolls f...
Two young elephants were spotted in a playful tangle during a friendly tussle at South Africa’s Addo Elephant National Park.
The adorable moment was captured by professional photographer Anne Laing, who snapped photos showing the elephants entwining their trunks as they learned to play-fight.
Laing, 59, from Pretoria, South Africa, explained that these interactions help young elephants develop control over their trunks, a vital skill as they grow.
“Young elephants twist their trunks while play-fighting, which entertains them and teaches them to handle their trunks effectively,” she said. “They also mimic adult behavior, using this gesture as a greeting.”
Elephants are born without full control of their trunks, and it takes up to three months before they can properly maneuver them.
As they mature, the trunks become indispensable, functioning like an arm, hand, and straw combination—particularly useful when drinking.
Laing, a professional photographer for 35 years, spends entire days in the park from sunrise to sunset.
She explained that Addo’s dense vegetation makes spotting elephants challenging, but listening to branches breaking often signals their presence nearby.
In addition to capturing the playful moments, Laing photographed the elephants drinking and using their trunks to spray water on each other, a common cooling technique in the hot climate.
“Water is essential for elephants; they need to drink daily, with adults consuming up to 150 liters daily,” she noted. “After drinking, they spray water over their bodies to cool off, as they often walk great distances to find water.”
One particularly heartwarming image shows a mother elephant gently stroking her calf with her trunk, highlighting their affectionate bond.
“The trunks are incredibly sensitive to touch, and this was a lovely example of maternal care,” Laing added.
With an extensive portfolio, Laing has photographed various subjects throughout her career, including major sporting events such as the Rugby and Football World Cups and the 2016 Rio Olympics.
She hopes to continue her passion for wildlife photography and is aiming to photograph the upcoming Rugby World Cup and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Laing’s dedication to capturing the beauty of elephants and wildlife is evident in her work, and she makes it a point to embark on as many wildlife trips as possible to document these incredible creatures in their natural habitats.
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