Elephant calves are wonderful creatures. Despite being so large, they still behave like juvenile animals and occasionally throw fits.
An elephant herd crossing a road in a video demonstrates this in all its glory.
Although the actual location of the video is unknown, Botswana, Kenya, and Zimbabwe are some of the most well-liked destinations for safaris where visitors can see elephants.
While viewing the animals from inside their cars, Elena and her driver are both safe and courteous, as is the approaching driver. But the resolute calf captivates everyone’s attention.
Many of us would be inclined to go out and assist this mother and her child, perhaps out of pure empathy. It’s clear that the puddle is not a water hazard; it is merely that.
This small elephant, however, has no interest in going over it to cross the street.
He even makes a couple attempts to run away, but his mother won’t let him.
She does everything to get him moving, from corralling him beneath her body and shoving him forward with her legs to pushing him along with her trunk. No luck, though.
Nearly every difficult moment of this conflict, including the escape attempts, will be familiar to everyone who has ever wrestled with a toddler.
We would witness elephants putting their fists on their hips, firmly saying the names of their children—including the middle name—through their teeth, and reprimanding them for failing to complete this one easy chore so they could move on with their day.
But there aren’t many possibilities for punishment. Mom therefore makes repeated attempts to get her calf to cross the street.
She is extraordinarily patient, especially considering that her youngster does in fact appear to be terrified, yet elephants are considered to be excellent moms.
This mother does receive assistance from another member of the herd, as female elephants frequently assist one another in rearing calves, though ultimately, such assistance is of little use.
It is rather obvious that the two adults are attempting to illustrate how to cross the road without fear and are attempting to make the point that a small puddle never damaged anyone.
However, the infant elephant appears to believe that getting its feet wet is the worst possible scenario. Evidently, a toddler of any species cannot be reasoned with!
It practically climbs up atop its mother and motions for her to stay. And for a brief period, we consider whether a few of them would team up to lift it with their trunks over the obstruction.
But hey, at some time, we all need to learn how to cross a puddle safely. Mom has chosen this as a teaching opportunity.
Despite the fact that both cars appear to be a touch too close to the elephants—possibly in an effort to persuade them to go forward more quickly—they actually move backward as the elephants come nearer.
(And there is a moment of protection when one of the elephants essentially honks at them to back off!)
Source: animalchannel.co