August 12th marks the 12th World Elephant Day. From August 12th to September 10th, Chimelong Safari Park's "Super Elephant Festival" officially kicks off to invite visitors to learn about the Asian elephant population in a joyful experience.

Since the introduction of Asian elephants for translocation conservation in December 2000, the Asian elephant named "Jigu" has started its ecological life in Chimelong Safari Park. From the birth of her first baby elephant "Longlong" in 2005 to the present, she has a total of 5 offspring, including Longlong, Tony, 361, Annie, and Weiwu, forming a lively three-generation family.

More than 30 Asian elephants live in Chimelong Safari Park, living a communal life similar to that in the wild with a rich social life. Due to differencesin age and status, elephants have different personalities and temperaments, and interesting stories often occur between them. Some elephants put their trunks together to show unity and friendship, some compete for priority, some demonstrate their strength, and some tirelessly fight for tree leaves.

In the scorching heat of summer, in order to cool down and protect their skin, Asian elephants need to take mud baths and be sprayed with water regularly. It is reported that the "Super Elephant Festival" has invited a group of tourists to participate in the grooming work of Asian elephants, adding mud and trees to their living environment.

On August 11th, fans of the elephants gathered to dig a 40-square-meter pit and planted banana seedlings. They then watched the elephants wade into the mud to enjoy a mud bath with their ears flapping and their ears splashing water. Even the usually calm mother elephant couldn't resist the excitement to join the others playfully when she saw the huge mud pit, leading nearby baby elephants to run and play in the mud pit with joy.

图集｜到长隆看大象

8月12日是第12个世界大象日（World Elephant Day）。8月12日至9月10日，长隆“超级大象节”正式开启邀请游客一起加入，在欢乐体验中了解亚洲象大种群。

从2000年12月引进亚洲象进行迁地保护的饲养保育工作时起，亚洲象“叽咕”就在长隆开始了原生态生活。从2005年生下第一头小象“隆隆”至今，已先后共繁育了5子，老大隆隆、老二托尼、老三六一、老四安妮、老五威武，如今已成了热闹的三代同堂大家族。

30多只亚洲象在长隆过着与在野外一样的群居生活，有相当丰富的社交活动。由于大象的年龄、地位高低不同，性格脾气也各异，社群生活的常常会发生一些小故事，有团结友爱鼻子相互贴贴的、有争抢优先权的、有宣示实力的，还有不知疲倦争夺树叶的，场面十分有趣。

夏日酷热高温之下，为了降温、保护皮肤，亚洲象需要经常洗泥浆浴、喷水。据悉，“超级大象节”邀请了一批游客参与到亚洲象丰容打造工作中，为大象的生活环境“添泥加树”。

8月11日，大象的粉丝朋友们一起出力，挖出宽40平方米的大坑，并种下了香蕉苗，再一起看着大象蹚入泥坑，随心所欲泥浆浴，扑扇着耳朵，伸长鼻子，戏水喷水。就连平时性格“沉稳”的母象，看到了超大的泥坑都忍不住“撒欢”起来，带动周边的小象一起在泥坑里奔跑，欢快地玩耍着。

图、文｜羊城晚报全媒体记者 邓勃 黎存根
翻译｜白心怡
责编｜王瑜瑛