A baby elephant must learn to control its trunk. This is an incredibly complex tool which contains over 40 000 muscles and no bones. This young elephant was clearly a novice at operating his trunk, however, this didn’t stop him from putting on his best show.
He was determined to get it right, however, the trunk didn’t seem to want to cooperate!
The theatrics necessary for learning an essential skill
With mom close by, he his best to get control of his prize appendage. He flicked it up and down, and battled to straighten it out. He was a living testament that using a trunk isn’t as easy as it looks!
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Calves often look clumsy using their trunks for the very reason that they are still learning to use them.
They will often practice by waving, dragging and even tripping over their own trunks as they explore the world around them. These playful movements help strengthen muscles and improve coordination. They’re also a sign of a relaxed, curious calf that feels safe under the watchful eye of its mother and the herd.
Practice makes perfect
The baby elephant continued in his efforts to gain control over his trunk. At one point, the trunk swung to the side with great vigour. In another amusing moment, it appeared to be close to slapping his face.
As serious as he was about mastering the use of his trunk, his antics remained playful in nature. He was still essentially a baby so he could be excused for his clumsy, awkward movements.
He walked across the road with the zeal typical of younger animals, all the while swinging his trunk and hoping for the best.
The long learning process essential for trunk mastery
Calves often try to drink through their trunks long before they are ready, sometimes ending up coughing or spraying water everywhere, which is a normal part of learning.
Trunk practice is also important for social bonding. Calves use their trunks to touch, reassure, and play with other herd members, learning gentle control as well as strength.
This little one’s mother stayed close by while the learning process was underway. Mothers and older female elephants are patient teachers, allowing calves to experiment. They sometimes even guide their trunks toward food or water to help them out!
The good news is that these small elephants do eventually get it right. As calves grow, their trunk skills become more precise.
Calf disappears with Mom after entertaining motorists
What starts as clumsy swinging slowly turns into the ability to pluck single blades of grass. This little one will one day be able to use his trunk to dust himself for skin care, and to suck up several litres of water at once. For now, he is learning to master the trunk that he will rely on for the rest of his life.
After entertaining motorists for a short while, he soon ran off to join mom, and they disappeared into the thicket off the side of the road.
