Man Jai, the six-month-old Asian elephant calf, made a splash at Melbourne Zoo as he bravely took his inaugural dive into the deep pool. With his older sister Mali by his side, Man Jai fearlessly ventured into the 4.5-meter pool, undeterred by the chilly water.
From an early age, Man Jai had displayed a strong affinity for swimming, and his excitement was evident as he graduated from the shallower paddling pool to this new aquatic adventure.
Six-month-old Asian elephant calf, Man Jai, has taken his first dip at Melbourne Zoo despite the freezing temperatures. Source: Daily Mail
It seems that the cold temperatures do not deter these elephants from enjoying a swim, as they have been known to take a dip even during winter. Melbourne Zoo’s CCTV footage captured them swimming during the night last winter.
Dominic Moss, the manager of the elephant enclosure at Melbourne Zoo, shared that visitors can now expect to see Man Jai swimming most days.
Born as the fourth elephant calf at the zoo, Man Jai follows in the footsteps of his sister Mali, the first-ever elephant calf and first female calf born in Australia.
While Man Jai still depends on his mother Dokkoon’s milk for nourishment, he has begun to show interest in the food consumed by the other elephants.
The baby elephant dived into the 4.5m pool alongside his big sister Mali on Monday. It is the first time Man Jai has swum in the ‘deep pool’ with it previously being off limits to the calf. Source: Daily MailMan Jai and Mali were joined by their mother, Dokkoon, and the other three adult females in the Trail of the Elephants enclosure at the zoo. Source: Daily Mail
The Melbourne Zoo’s breeding program, part of the regional endangered species breeding program for Asian Elephants, commenced when three young females arrived from Thailand at Avalon Airport in 2006.
Keepers say Man Jai showed a keen interest in swimming days after he was born but has only been allowed to use the elephant paddling pool. Source: Daily MailThe freezing temperatures failed to deter Man Jai and Mali, as the elephants are known for swimming regardless of the climate. Man Jai is the fourth elephant calf born at the zoo. He still relies on his mother Dokkoon’s milk for his nutrition.
Source: Daily MailMali is showing a strong maternal instinct already and has been helping to watch over her rapidly-growing baby brother. The manager of the elephant enclosure at Melbourne Zoo, Dominic Moss, said visitors could expect to see Man Jai swimming most days from now on.