Anyone who has ever tried to clean with a toddler nearby knows exactly how this goes.
The moment you pick up a broom, mop, or bucket, the little one suddenly decides they are your assistant. The only problem? Their version of “helping” usually makes the mess twice as bad.
Apparently, baby elephants are no different.
At Following Giants, an elephant sanctuary in Thailand, a sweet mama elephant named Motif recently arrived with her one-month-old baby, Monty-Aaron. The tiny elephant is already stealing hearts, and in one adorable clip, he proves he has the personality of a toddler trapped in a very large baby body.
In the video, a caretaker is trying to clean out the elephants’ water pool. But Monty-Aaron clearly thinks the whole thing looks like a game.
Instead of staying out of the way, the playful baby elephant hops right into the pool, splashes around, and turns a simple cleaning job into full-blown playtime. The poor caretaker tries to get the chore done, but Monty-Aaron has other plans.
Luckily, Mama Motif notices what is happening and steps in like any patient mom who has seen enough toddler nonsense for one day.
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Following Giants joked in the caption that Monty-Aaron has “many talents,” but efficiency may not be one of them.
“Watch as he tries his best to ‘help’ his mahout,” the sanctuary wrote.
The sanctuary also shared that Monty-Aaron is now ready to begin exploring more of the sanctuary alongside his mom. For now, the staff’s biggest priority is making sure both Motif and her baby feel calm, safe, and comfortable as they adjust to new surroundings outside their familiar enclosure.
And judging by Monty-Aaron’s pool-cleaning performance, his caretakers are going to have their hands full.
Baby elephants are famously curious, playful, and emotional. In many ways, they really do act like giant toddlers. They explore constantly, test boundaries, and sometimes throw tantrums when things do not go their way.
A frustrated baby elephant may trumpet, stomp, roll in the mud, or push at things nearby. It may look dramatic, but it is a normal part of how young elephants deal with big feelings.
They also have one habit that makes them seem even more like human babies. Baby elephants sometimes suck on their trunks to soothe themselves, much like toddlers suck their thumbs.
When they are newborns, elephants do not have full control over their trunks yet. They learn how to use them by touching their mothers, other elephants, their environment, and even themselves.
That makes Monty-Aaron’s mischievous “help” even more precious. He is still learning about the world, one splashy disaster at a time.
There is no doubt this little elephant is going to keep his mama and caretakers busy. But if this video is any sign, he is also going to keep everyone smiling while he grows.