Amidst a heatwave in Melbourne, a baby elephant at the city’s zoo found the perfect way to cool down – by taking a refreshing swim.
The young Asian elephant calf, born at Melbourne Zoo just last week, is still unnamed. Once the one-week-old appeared to have a firm grip on walking, zookeepers decided it was time to fill the pool in the elephant enclosure.
With the city experiencing sweltering 35°C temperatures, the calf and his mother Num-Oi, appreciated the opportunity to take a dip and cool off.
While Num-Oi had no issues navigating the shallow water, her tiny son encountered a few challenges and even experienced complete dunking.
The calf’s arrival was quite an extended event, as Num-Oi’s 22-month pregnancy was followed by a four-day labor. Nonetheless, her 131kg baby was born safely and standing within minutes.
Zookeepers report that first-time mother Num-Oi is doing an excellent job, showing great attentiveness to her calf.
Although he hasn’t received an official name, the baby elephant has earned the nickname “Dougie” due to his love for digging in the enclosure’s dirt.
This month, Sydney, another Australian city, recorded its hottest day ever, with temperatures reaching 45.8°C, surpassing the previous record set in 1939.
Thousands flocked to the beaches for relief, while temperatures climbed even higher at Sydney Airport to 46.4°C.
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