An elephant calf at a UK zoo has been photographed learning to protect herself from the sun and insects by imitating her mother.
Zaiya, a baby elephant at Blackpool Zoo in Lancashire, was seen watching her mother pick up sand with her trunk and toss it over her own body.
The young calf then copied the action, throwing sand over herself in a natural behaviour known as dusting.
Photographer Alison Allen captured the pictures of the animals in their enclosure.
"The girls were just in the top sand paddock, and they started throwing sand on themselves," Allen said.
Natural sunscreen
Dusting acts as a natural suncream for elephants, protecting their large bodies from harsh UV rays and preventing painful sunburns.
Despite their thick skin, elephants are highly sensitive to the sun and rely on environmental materials to shield themselves.
"They do this for skin protection and cooling," Allen said.
"This behaviour, called dusting, acts as a natural sunscreen and protection against UV rays, deters biting insects, helps regulate body temperature, and locks in moisture after a bath."
"Their thick skin is surprisingly sensitive to the harsh sun, so sand and mud block harmful rays and prevent painful sunburns," she added.
The dry coating also offers defence against pests.
"The dry layer traps a barrier against flies, mosquitoes, and parasites," Allen said.
Thermoregulation and skin care
Elephants lack sweat glands, making behaviours like dusting and bathing essential for keeping cool in warm weather.
Allen explained that the grit from the sand also serves a practical purpose for skin maintenance.
"Dusting helps with thermoregulation, keeping their large bodies cool under the hot sun, and the grit helps soothe existing insect bites and allows them to scrub off dead skin cells when they rub against trees afterwards," she said.
The photographer noted that Zaiya is developing her physical coordination through these daily activities.
"It was so great to see baby Zaiya mastering the use of her trunk and throwing more sand this time," Allen said.
Shared care
Elephants are highly social animals that live in matriarchal herds, led by older females.
Young elephants learn essential survival skills by observing and mimicking the older members of their group.
"She will learn these things by copying her mum and the other adults," Allen said.
The herd structure relies on shared responsibility for raising calves, allowing multiple adults to contribute to a young elephant's development.
"They do what is known as alloparenting, which means the adult females will share care and teach the youngster the skills they need," Allen said.
Blackpool Zoo is a major wildlife attraction in North West England, housing a herd of Asian elephants in a specially designed habitat.
