Elephants are able to walk and move around shortly after birth. It takes them some time to get steady on their feet but generally within a few hours they are able to keep up with the herd. The trunk on the other hand takes can take weeks or even months to master. At five weeks old, Baylor is starting to figure out the benefits to having a trunk and over time he will master its effectiveness.
Elephant’s drink almost exclusively from the trunk, they fill the trunk with water and then blow the water into their mouths. While Baylor gets most of his nutrition from his mother’s milk in the hot Houston climate, it is essential that he gets his fair share of water throughout the day. After a few weeks of practicing and carefully studying how the adults drink, Baylor has figured out how to drink with his trunk. This is a milestone for a baby elephant.
Written by Daryl Hoffman, Houston Zoo Large Mammal Curator
