Always Have a Swim Buddy (or Two)

Summer Safety Tip: Make sure there are lifeguards on duty when you go swimming. When this baby elephant at South Korea’s Seoul Grand Park took a tumble into the deep end, quick-thinking adults came up with a plan to escort the calf to safety.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD9vpKtkoo0&rel=0

A great find by Lisa B. and Gigi the cat lady.

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24 thoughts on “Always Have a Swim Buddy (or Two)

  1. Alice Shortcake June 20, 2017 / 12:36 pm

    *Stands up and cheers*

  2. Smartypants June 20, 2017 / 12:43 pm

    Rescued Baby Trunkster!

  3. Faye June 20, 2017 / 1:02 pm

    Teamwork!

  4. Gigi the cat lady June 20, 2017 / 1:05 pm

    I feel sorry for the poor elephant in the enclosure at the back passing up and down the fence, it so want to help and is not able to but you can see how worried it is for the baby.

    • Murray C June 20, 2017 / 1:31 pm

      Wasn’t that amazing? I love elephant societal structure – fantastic!

    • Mikeyfur June 20, 2017 / 2:32 pm

      Thank you to Gigi and Lisa B! This was wonderful!

  5. allein ? June 20, 2017 / 1:06 pm

    I dunno…it looked like the little one was doing okay on his own. He seemed to be heading for the shallow end. But I like how the older ones sprang into action just in case.

  6. kodalai June 20, 2017 / 1:17 pm

    I can find it cute because the baby was fine, but: did anyone else see how the bb elephant held up his trunk like a periscope?

    • allein ? June 20, 2017 / 1:27 pm

      I saw that, too!

      • Murray C June 20, 2017 / 8:06 pm

        That was the best! I thought, how smart is this little creature! And it was adorable to boot.

    • debg June 20, 2017 / 5:46 pm

      Could we have an “Up Periscope” tag? Or would it only apply to heffalumps?

      • Not That Mike The Other Mike June 20, 2017 / 6:41 pm

        It could also apply to animals that commonly poke their heads up from enclosed spaces; prairie dogs spring immediately to mind. I’ll think about that as a tag idea. Thanks!

        • julie June 20, 2017 / 9:10 pm

          And Meerkats!

        • Duckie ? June 21, 2017 / 12:20 pm

          Hippos do it, too. Love how Fiona just pokes her nose out of the water, takes a quick breath, and goes back under.

          • allein ? June 21, 2017 / 12:45 pm

            I always think of that as taking a sip of air.

            • Duckie ? June 21, 2017 / 12:49 pm

              ☺️

    • Smartypants June 20, 2017 / 8:18 pm

      Yes – “Look mama, I’m snorkeling!”

  7. Amyliz June 20, 2017 / 1:51 pm

    Ok, now I love elephants even more!

  8. Chase June 20, 2017 / 2:06 pm

    Amazing!! Yet another incredible example of how much we human animals have in common with nonhuman animals. ?❤️

  9. Laura June 20, 2017 / 2:22 pm

    Baby elephants grow up surrounded by so much love and attention — not only do they have mum, but also aunties and big sisters galore! They are so incredibly attentive to their babies, it just makes my heart sing!

  10. Duckie ? June 20, 2017 / 6:40 pm

    I love how the one that came to the rescue pushed the first one towards the entrance to the pool. “Go go go…get in the water! Hurry!”

  11. Flowerfanatic June 20, 2017 / 7:20 pm

    I watch a lot of videos and live broadcasts from Africa. It’s not unusual to see all the family gather round a bebeh trunkster if there’s trouble brewing. It could be a lion on the hunt — the bebeh one is always in the middle of the adults. Or, like this one, fallen into deep water and need rescuing. They recognize how important the new little ones are to the structure of the group and protect them at all costs. We all know some humans who could take lessons from what we observe in the wild with animal families. And none of them had to read a book on ‘how to parent’. I find that a sad situation for the human race.

  12. Smartypants June 21, 2017 / 7:06 am

    Is anyone else now getting an ad for diving equipment? Perfect!

  13. 6rabbits June 21, 2017 / 11:40 am

    Elephants are sooo attentive to their young, but I’m pretty sure baby trunkster was saying “Mom, I’m FINE, I’m snorkeling! I can do it by myself!” Too cute?

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