The baby elephants of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust take eating very seriously. Each of these little pachyderms has been rescued from a life-threatening situation and is now being lovingly cared for by the dedicated keepers at the Trust. What’s a key part of their daily routine? Milk bottles.
Just like human babies, these sweet elephants run like clockwork—and they know exactly when it’s time for their next meal. In a recent video shared on Instagram, several of the baby elephants take off running at the sound of the milk truck approaching.
Toto and Natibu charge through the brush in a playful race to see who can get there first. Despite having longer legs, Natibu comes in second, though technically both boys were a few steps behind the true winner: Korbessa. When it comes to food, this precious girl wastes no time—and she’s almost always the first to arrive.
Natibu also pauses to say hello to the camera, giving us an incredible close-up of his sweet face before continuing down the path to his bottle. He moves in close to Toto, and thanks to the impressive multitasking skills of Keeper Jonas, both boys finish their bottles in a matter of seconds.
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The comment section was buzzing with hilarious reactions. Here are a few highlights:
“I also race to my food—I love having something in common with these sweet babies!”
“I have the slurping sound saved on my phone so I can listen to it whenever I need a Zen moment!”
“I understand this level of ‘hangriness.” Food, I need food!”
Questions & Answers With the Audience
“Absolutely adorable! I have one question, do these orphans see their keepers as a mother figure because they give them milk?”
-The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust replied, “It’s more than just milk — the Keepers provide round-the-clock love, support, and guidance.” ❤️
“Do baby elephants in the wild still drink milk at this age? If not, why do these orphan elephants still get a bottle?”
-The Trust provided this answer, “Yes — Korbessa, Natibu, and Toto are only 2-3 years old; in the wild, calves may suckle for 6+ years or until a new sibling comes along. We invite our orphans to wean at their own pace — they’ve been through so much, and this small comfort adds to their nutrition and contentment.”
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This story was originally reported by PetHelpful on Oct 16, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.