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...
A baby elephant named Ajabu, born at the Dallas Zoo this spring has finally made his public debut after extensive preparations to ensure his safety.
His mother, Mlilo, arrived at the zoo from Swaziland while unknowingly pregnant and gave birth to Ajabu in May.
The young calf was born underweight, leading the zoo to modify the exhibit to create a secure environment for him to thrive.
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According to Harrison Edell, the zoo’s senior director of living collections, Ajabu’s low birth weight was partly due to the limited food resources available to his mother during her time in South Africa.
Ajabu weighed just 175 pounds at birth, but thanks to dedicated care, he now weighs approximately 330 pounds.
“He’s growing quickly. He’s catching up, but he had a rocky start,” Edell shared with Dallas News.
While Ajabu may still look small beside his 4,900-pound mother, his rapid growth is a promising sign of his health.
Ajabu made his first appearance in the zoo’s Giants of the Savanna exhibit, where zoo officials took special steps to make the habitat both safe and engaging for him.
Doug Dykman, the zoo’s vice president of facilities and sustainability, explained, “We were trying to give him as much room to get around and explore without letting him access public, service, or keeper areas.” The main goal was to allow Ajabu space to roam and grow securely.
Now standing nearly four feet tall, Ajabu is still nursing but has also begun sampling hay and produce as his teeth come in.
The Giants of the Savanna, a sprawling 11-acre habitat, is home to various African animals, including elephants, giraffes, zebras, lions, and cheetahs.
Certain sections were adjusted to accommodate Ajabu’s needs and keep him separate from other animals until he matures further.
Read more Elephant News.
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