A one-week-old elephant calf has been captured enjoying some muddy fun at Chester Zoo.
Nandita Hi Way joined five members of her family slipping and sliding around in the dirt – before mum Thi wiped her eyes and ears with her trunk.
Nandita was born just last Thursday.
The zoo’s Hi Way family of Asian elephants span four generations.
Thi is also mum to Sithami, 18.
She is grandmother to Sundara, 11, and Bala, two, and great grandmother to Hari, three.
Team manager of elephants Andy Mckenzie, said: “The herd often like to play in mud and, on warmer days, it’s a great way for them to cool off.
“Wallowing in mud also helps to keep the elephants’ skin healthy and they can usually be seen dust bathing in sand and scratching on branches and rocks afterwards.
“Our new calf Nandita is only a few days old, but she’s wasted no time in diving in to enjoy a splash with the others.
“All of the family really look out for her, and mum Thi in particular is never far away – always there to lend a helping trunk should Nandita need a bit of mud wiping away from her eyes and ears.”
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