Elephants are the gentle giants we all know and love – but baby elephants are even better. It’s time to show some major appreciation to the fuzzy-headed little Dumbo’s who will eventually become the mammoths of tomorrow.

Elephant babies, or calves, are usually born at about 250 pounds and 3 feet tall. They’re pretty clumsy for about 3 months after they’re born, and have hardly any control over their trunks, which they often trip over. As if that doesn’t make them enough of a handful, calves usually drink around 3 whole gallons of milk every day, a routine they sometimes keep for up to 10 years. That’s a tall order for a mom of any species! While male elephants will grow to leave the herd after 12 years or so, females stay with their families for life – good news for all of the elephant parents who can’t bear the thought of their daughters leaving the nest.
Check out our favourite baby elephants below, and share this with anyone who might need a few floppy ears to help them get through today.