Baby Elephant Doesn't Understand Its Trunk (VIDEO)

Just when it seems like the elephant world is saturated with bad news, from allegations of abuse caught on hidden cameras, to mistreatment during movie training, gems like this video surface and the world seems a little better.

This cute little elephant at the Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire, England seems to be struggling with its first-ever baby steps on Earth.

Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, little cutie! As for your trunk troubles ... we're not really sure we have a lot of advice to offer on that one.

Watch as this wobbly baby trots around near his mother, feebly trying to master his motor skills.

In other happy news, scroll through some photos of 50-year-old Motala the elephant getting a prosthetic leg in Thailand, and view an elephant painting for Elephant Appreciation Day.

Enjoy!

WATCH:

Need more cute animals? Check out the orangutan slideshow below:

Comments

[gintheb]

01:57 PM on 10/25/2011

Does anyone know if this is typical for baby elephants? If not he may have some sort of neurological disorder.

[You Grow Hair]

09:33 PM on 11/01/2011

Elephant babies are very much like human babies, in that they need a lot of care and protection from their mothers and their "families" for longer periods than most other animals. They learn from and enjoy different textures, smells, shapes and noises. They also learn by example and enjoy copying adults. This elephant is learning that by using his trunk, he will be able to feed himself one day. This action also strengthens the muscles of his trunk, just like human babies strengthen their leg, back, neck and arm muscles by repetitive motion for use in walking, sitting up, etc. This is not only normal, but one of the criteria necessary to be considered "thriving", when accessing newborn elephant growth.

Keep trying, little one!

[gintheb]

08:56 AM on 11/02/2011

Thanks. Glad to know that this is normal behavior.

[You Grow Hair]

11:13 PM on 10/23/2011

That is too cute! It looks like he's trying to suck his trunk.

[MotorolaRival]

08:00 PM on 10/23/2011

Lol he's like "Whoa what is this..Ma look! No hands!"

[rosasturtles1]

07:57 PM on 10/23/2011

how beautiful is that...precious baby elephant..kissy kissy

[coffee tea]

07:16 PM on 10/22/2011

Can animal videos get any cuter? Priceless..

[STEEPLECHASERIDER]

11:52 PM on 10/21/2011

i love elephants and I also LOVE REPUBLICANS !!!!!

[madchen515]

09:16 PM on 11/05/2011

um, ok

[Ssufyerd Kaz]

10:37 PM on 10/21/2011

I love elephants. I will not let the republicans screw that one up for me the way they have with lots of other things.

[Nick Walden Poublon]

04:44 PM on 10/21/2011

Baby elephant is a dead ringer for my Aunt Rita after she's had a few drinks at Christmas. She tries and tries to get those mashed potatoes in her mouth.

[Spiggy]

02:14 PM on 10/22/2011

I think we all have a "Aunt Rita" in our family during the holidays.

[slfisher]

08:15 AM on 10/21/2011

They should name it Gerald.

[GraeMagruder]

01:47 AM on 10/21/2011

The baby is mimicking (very well) the actions of the older elephant just behind (a one-year-old, according to the observer), even down to gathering something with his feet and then scooping it up with his trunk. The baby is too young to coordinate his legs to walk, but can already do the most important thing for his survival. Struggling? Trunk troubles? Feeble? Hrmph.

[CarlyQ]

09:29 PM on 10/20/2011

Elephants are my favourite earth animal by far.

Humans? Not so much.

[Blue123]

02:41 PM on 10/20/2011

OMG....reminds me of my little brother when he discovered his penis. (lol) I mean that in the nicest way.

[Cailleach Echo]

12:04 PM on 10/20/2011

Be sure to also watch the training of baby elephants by Ringling Brothers. You can click on it at the end of the cute video. It is likely that the adults in the cute video have been beaten and its also very likely that beautiful baby will be beaten as well.

Please boycott circuses and zoos. Its the only way we will ever stop the horrendous cruelty of beating elephants, systematically breaking their spirit, so they can be trained to perform stupid tricks for our entertainment.

Circuses and zoos - torturing animals for fun and profit.

[Kali03]

11:09 PM on 10/19/2011

That is the cutest Precious I have ever seen. I would love to kiss his sweet nose.

Mmm, BABY!

{{heartfelt sigh of joy}}

[banana republican]

08:08 PM on 10/19/2011

It seems clear the elephant was born to become a liberal.

[aceshigh11]

10:09 AM on 10/20/2011

More unabashed right-wing hate.

What a sad little person you are.

[mayzie bird]

12:16 PM on 10/20/2011

And what a sad little world s/he lives in!