In the province of Kanchanaburi, Thailand, a seven-month-old elephant gracefully sinks into a tub of water, embracing the cool relief it offers. With playful abandon, the young pachyderm extends a leg and drapes its trunk over the rim of the tub, reveling in the sensation of the water. Engaging in a spirited display, it splashes around, flapping its ears, causing torrents of water to cascade over the edges.
The joyous spectacle continues as the elephant lounges in the refreshing water, before rising gracefully with the assistance of its caretaker, who skillfully directs the flow of water. Classified as an endangered species, the Asian Elephant holds the title of the world’s largest land mammal, comprising three distinct subspecies – the Indian, Sumatran, and Sri Lankan.
These magnificent creatures, smaller than their African counterparts, boast a skin color ranging from dark grey to brown, accentuated by patches of pink on the forehead, ears, and base of the trunk.
Emerging from the tub, the elephant maintains its playful demeanor, frolicking and splashing about in the cool, invigorating water.
During the scorching summertime, hairless mammals such as elephants and rhinos seek relief in water baths, mud, and clay to stay cool and shield themselves from the sun. In a groundbreaking discovery in 2018, researchers at the University of Geneva in Switzerland unveiled that the intricate wrinkles adorning an elephant’s skin play a crucial role in efficient water dispersion, aiding in the regulation of the animal’s body temperature.