Somebody get this little guy some teething toys!
Baby animals have so much in common with human babies — from snuggles with their moms to throwing mini-tantrums when they don’t get what they want. And when it comes to teething pains, even baby elephants know how to seek a little comfort.
Wildlife Rescuers recently shared a heart-melting video on TikTok showing a baby elephant trying to ease the ache of growing tusks. Watching him rub his tiny tusks against a table to soothe himself is beyond adorable — and don’t even get me started on his wild, fluffy hairdo. It’s pure joy.
@wildlife_rescuers Just like a human baby soothes teething gums, a baby elephant finds comfort as its tiny tusks begin to grow. It may gently rub them against tree trunks or even suck on its own trunk to ease the discomfort. It’s an adorable and touching reminder of how animals, even giants like elephants, share some of the same early struggles we do. Video credit #1 credit goes to @wildliferescuers Video #2 & #3 credit unknown Please DM us for credit #animal #cuteanimals #animallovers #elephant #elephantlover #babyelephant #cutebabyelephant #babyelephantlove #elephanttusk ♬ original sound – Wildlife_Rescuers
Viewers completely fell in love with the little elephant. One commenter, @painnogain_emo, gushed, “So freaking cute!!!!” Another, @Dede Bencruscutto, wrote, “Awwwwww What a sweetie!” And @G1ll14N couldn’t help but notice, “His lil’ hairdo!! Beyond gorgeous, little one!”
In the caption, Wildlife Rescuers explained, “Just like a human baby soothes teething gums, a baby elephant finds comfort as its tiny tusks begin to grow. It may gently rub them against tree trunks or even suck on its own trunk to ease the discomfort. It’s an adorable and touching reminder of how animals, even giants like elephants, share some of the same early struggles we do.”
When Do Baby Elephants Get Their Tusks?
If you’re wondering how old elephants are when this adorable phase starts, conservation experts at Tsavo Trust have the answer. Baby elephants are actually born with something called a “tush” — kind of like their version of baby teeth. These tiny tushes grow to about 2 inches long and don’t really serve a purpose other than guiding the growth of their adult tusks.
Real tusk growth kicks off around two years of age. From there, an elephant’s tusks keep growing — up to an incredible 7 inches a year, depending on their diet and a little bit of good genetics. With a healthy lifestyle, some elephants grow into what conservationists call “super tuskers,” with tusks so long they actually drag on the ground!
Sadly, these majestic “big tuskers” are now incredibly rare, with only about 25 known to exist because of poaching. If you haven’t seen photos of these gentle giants, it’s absolutely worth looking them up. They are truly breathtaking.
Here’s hoping that sweet baby elephant with the fabulous hair is well on his way to growing a legendary set of tusks — and in the meantime, finding all the comfort he needs.
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