A video capturing a baby elephant teasing its human companion with playful kicks has captured hearts online.
Playful calf: The clip, shared by Indian Forest Service Officer (IFS) Susanta Nanda on Twitter on Friday, showcases the gentle calf engrossed in a playful interaction with one of the officers.
“Elephant calves are one of the most playful mega herbivores one can come across,” Nanda wrote. “Watch these side kicks to believe & enjoy.”
Apparently oblivious to its innate strength, the baby elephant can be seen unleashing a series of sideways kicks in excitement as it rushes around its human companion. The human is also engrossed in the interaction and wisely dodges the kicks to avoid getting hurt.
The video has since been viewed over 113,000 times and earned thousands of likes, as of this writing.
Social media reactions: Twitter users were quick to express their delight and amusement, showering the video with affectionate comments.
“They’re so cute, especially after getting to know the person and a bit of bond developing between them,” a commenter wrote.
“What an understanding of anatomy by such a young one,” another noted. “He is using his hindlimb for the kicks same as the man. 😊”
Elephants’ compassion: In a separate post on June 22, Nanda shared a video showing an elephant saving a deer stuck in a pool of mud by giving it a helpful nudge.
“If they can be compassionate, why can’t we?” Nanda asked in his post.
