Youngest elephant calf Tendai enjoys first mud bath in outdoor enclosure

Five-day-old elephant calf Tendai, accompanied by the herd, including her two young half-sisters, discovered Beekse Bergen's outdoor enclosure for the first time. The rainfall of the earlier days was more than welcome: the elephants were enthusiastically enjoying a mud bath.

African elephant Punda gave birth to her calf Tendai on Monday, Feb. 19. Two calves, Mosi and Ajabu, were also born in the same herd late last year. They have previously explored the outdoor enclosure.

Head zookeeper Yvonne Vogels: "It was beautiful to see how patiently Punda helped her cub. Where most of the family was already outside, she guided her calf Tendai across the threshold. Tendai, of course, had no idea yet that there was a door and what could be found behind it!"

Matriarch
Punda is the oldest of the elephant herd and thus the matriarch. It means she plays an important role within the group. When the two earlier calves were born, her essential role was visible: she taught her daughters how to care for their young calves.

Vogels says, "At events like this, you can see Punda's role quite clearly. The older ladies are already outside and inside Punda is helping the younger ones. It was the same with Mosi and Ajabu. Now that her own calf has arrived, we see her patiently guiding the other two little ones to the right mother. She has obviously taught her daughters the tricks of the trade now, so they get to care for themselves."

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