Baby elephants are known for their curiosity and playful nature. They love showing off for one another—and for the humans who help care for them—making us the lucky recipients of endlessly adorable baby pachyderm moments.
As shared on Instagram by @sheldricktrust, three baby elephants—each with a flair for the dramatic—seem to turn everything into a competition. Whether it’s racing toward the milk bottle truck or scrambling for the best spot on top of the dusty dirt mound, these lively elephant calves love showing off for one another.
Sulwi, Lenny, and Zigi are all adorable as individual elephants, but when you put these three together, you have a mini herd that quickly makes everyone laugh with their over-the-top toddler-like antics.
They recently held a talent show for the keepers of the Sheldrick Trust to showcase their most impressive skills, and honestly, it’s impossible to pick a winner among them.
Sulwi went first with her “simultaneous mean mugging and scratching” because apparently she couldn’t decide between the stink eye and the itch on her face.
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Lenny went next, showing off his fancy trunk salute. He stands up tall with his ears fanned out really wide, and his trunk flipped up over his head. Very cute and very demure.
Last up was Zigi, and well… Zigi decided he was too hungry to show off, so he grabbed a snack instead. Although he wasn’t really competing, he does have an impressive ability to pick the best greens while snacking.
Which Baby Elephant Gave the Best Performance?
A few people believed that Lenny was the winner. One commenter said, “It’s gotta be Lenny the way he throws his trunk down at the end of the salute!!! But I absolutely love them all,” and another person declared, “They’re all so sweet, but Lenny’s saucy attitude has had me in stitches since you first introduced him!”
For one viewer, the answer was clear: “It is cruel to make us choose amongst our favorite babies, but I am going with Zigi because my mind is always on food too!” 😂
Unfortunately, there is no clear winner in the contest. Many followers found it impossible to pick just one little elephant, saying things like, “I’m sorry I can’t do that. It’s like asking me to pick my favorite kid or my favorite pup in my house!” and “All of them are my favorite, so beautiful and precious!”
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This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Jan 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.