Vienna Elephant Calf Cools Off With Playful Water And Mud Baths During Heatwave

An African elephant calf at Schönbrunn Zoo is discovering the fun of cooling off in the water during the current heatwave.

The young bull elephant has been enjoying showers, baths, and mud and sand baths along with the rest of the elephant herd. These activities help protect their sensitive skin from the sun and insects while supporting their overall well-being.

“Our elephants use water, mud, and sand for skin care, just like their counterparts in the wild. It’s particularly wonderful to watch our young bull elephant imitate this natural behavior of the adults and participate with great enthusiasm,” said Zoo Director Dr. Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck.

The calf will turn one year old on August 20 and has developed well over the past few months. He now weighs around 400 kilograms and brings energy to the herd with his playful behavior.

As his “aunt” spends more time in the bathing pool, the young elephant has become increasingly confident and is venturing further into the cool water.

“Our little bull watches the adult elephants very closely and tries to imitate many things – especially his father’s grooming. When his father throws sand onto his back with his trunk, he immediately tries it himself. He’s not quite perfect yet, but he’s getting more skillful every day,” said zookeeper Jenny Bukowski.