By James White


Scroll down for video

Oops! The tiny elephant baby falls over and struggles to get to its feet under its mother's legs


It appears to be a tiring and futile battle for this newborn baby elephant to stay on its four unsteady feet.

But look a little closer and it appears the youngster is enjoying its apparent misfortune, returning to the same spot over and over again.

Video of the animal staggering to his feet was captured by amused keepers at Whipsnade Zoo, Bedfordshire.

Still down: The five-week-old rolls around in the mud at Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire


The five-week-old Asian elephant can be seen slipping in the mud under the towering legs of his four-ton mother.

In the clip the elephant's mother and another adult are completely unconcerned by the baby's difficulties.

Zoo spokeswoman Emma Edwards said: 'He is a very bold considering he is only five weeks old.

'He always goes to that same patch but seems to enjoy getting stuck in the mud.


On its feet: The youngster manages to compose itself and regain its balance


All feet on deck: The Asian elephant baby rolls back down, apparently enjoying itself


'I don't think we have ever had such a feisty elephant at any of our zoos he will definitely be the leader of his group when he reaches adulthood.

'At one point onlookers were in stitches as his legs gave way and he fell face first into the mud.'






source:dailymail