Anyone who has ever tried to bathe an animal, especially a big one, will probably tell you that it can be a real struggle.
But this little elephant in Thailand proves that it’s not always as hard as you would think. In fact, it’s actually quite fun.
Captured on video by a visiting tourist who dubbed the elephant Double Trouble, the excitable animal is filmed diving straight towards the bath, snagging its leg on the side of it, tripping up and falling straight into the water.
After balancing on its head for a while looking as if it is struggling, the elephant manages to turn itself back onto its side and begins splashing about – seemingly unbothered by its less-than-graceful entry into the water.
Returning to its feet, the elephant heads towards the man bathing it, who is believed to be Claus Jorgensen, the Danish tourist who later uploaded the footage from the Royal Elephant Kraal and Village, in Thailand.
But the excitement isn’t over for the young elephant. It proceeds to jumping back out of the bath and attempt to steal the hose, causing the surrounding visitors to laugh hysterically.
After an enjoyable roll around in the water, apparently delighting in its added shower, the elephant grabs the hose from the girl and her mother and runs away with it in its trunk.
Royal Elephant Kraal & Village in Ayutthaya is a non-profit organisation that breeds elephants, cares for retired elephants and looks after all the ones in between.
Their popular Elephantstay programme allows visitors to care for the animals and guides are on hand to instruct on the best ways to feed, wash and interact with them.
Since the year 2000 The Royal Elephant Kraal’s breeding programme has resulted in over 60 births.
The latest recorded birth on their website was in December 2014, when an elephant named Oijai gave birth to a boy named Plai Kotchasuwan.
