Elephant Reaching for the Trees and Playtime

ELEPHANTS REACHING FOR TREES, PLAYING FOOTBALL AND SHOWING OFF THEIR PERSONALITIES

WITH PIX AND VID

BY SHUK YEE TSANG

Heartwarming footage shows rescued orphaned elephants enjoying life, from stretching high into the trees for the perfect snack to playing football with their carers and showing off their playful personalities.

One clip captures young elephant, Mwana, enjoying a friendly football match with her keeper, enthusiastically kicking around a milk bottle while showing off her playful side in Kenya.

Mwana, who recently celebrated her third birthday, shares a particularly close bond with her carers after they helped bottle-feed her around the clock when her mother Murera was temporarily unable to nurse her.

Other footage shows determined orphan Mzinga stretching onto her tiptoes to reach a specific branch high in a tree, despite plenty of easier snacks being available within reach.

The charming montage also features elephants stealing food from one another, squeezing through fences, attempting gymnastics, racing for milk bottles, enjoying naps together and learning the skills they will eventually need in the wild.

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which has spent nearly five decades rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned elephants across Kenya, said each elephant featured in the videos was rescued after losing its mother and is being prepared for a future back in the wild.

The conservation organisation explained that Mwana has a particularly special connection with her carers after they helped feed her during her first days of life when her mother struggled to nurse.

Speaking about Mwana's football skills, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust said: "One more dance down memory lane in honour of Mwana's third birthday. This was a favourite baby moment, taken when she was just three months old, when she schooled Keeper Sora in a friendly football match."

"For 11 days after giving birth, Murera couldn't nurse, so Keepers Sora and Evans stepped in, hand-milking Murera and bottle-feeding Mwana day and night.

Describing Mzinga's determination to reach a particular branch, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust said: "Your eyes don't deceive you, there are plenty of delicious branches within trunk's reach, but they simply won't do for Miss Mzinga. She has the perfect bite in sight, even if it's a tippy-toe and mighty reach to snag it."

The videos delighted viewers online.

One commenter wrote: "That's my girl! Reach for the stars and get the best branch of leaves."

Another said: "You can tell she is very proud of herself."

A third added: "Mzinga is very generous in sharing those luscious leaves. Very sweet and loving with the babies."

END