Meet Jet, the St. Louis Zoo's first Asain Elephant born through artificial insemination. Isn't he just a total cutie? I think it's those huge ears and big feet that he'll grow into that make him a cutie. Keep reading to see the latest video posted by the zoo that shows Jet enjoying a mud bath.

St. Louis Zoo

Jet's Birth & Name

The St. Louis Zoo says proud mama Jade, a 17-year-old Asian elephant, gave birth to Jet at 4:32 AM CST on Saturday, November 23, 2024. The elephant care team named the young calf Jet, which is a gemstone, in line with the zoo's family history of naming its elephants after gemstones. In addition to his mom, Jade, the calf's great-grandparents are Onyx and Pearl.

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First-time mom Jade helped Jet grow more courageous and coordinated each day under her watchful eye. Jet also enjoyed playing with greenery and interacting with his care team. He also got his first bath, not a mud bath, and learned to stand on the zoo's large platform scale. His first weight was 262 pounds!

An Elephant's Trunk Doesn't Work Like A Straw

As much as I've seen elephants on nature shows use their trunks, I've never thought about how they drink water. According to the St. Louis Zoo, elephants will suck up water with their trunk, then squirt it into their mouths. In this cute video, you can see Jet learning how to do this and blow bubbles with his trunk!

Why Do Elephants Love Mud Baths?

According to African Safaris, elephants bathe in mud for several reasons. One is that, with minimal hair and sweat glands, the mud cools them off. Two, it also protects their skin from sunburn, which they can get. Additionally, it protects them from insect bites. Take a look at Jet splashing around and getting his first mud bath.

What To Know About the St. Louis Zoo

The St. Louis Zoo is located in Forest Park next to US 40 / Interstate 64. Admission is free, but parking is $20, with discounts for zoo members. Parking transactions are now cashless. Check out the St. Louis Zoo website for more on parking and what the zoo offers.

LOOK: Stunning animal photos from around the world

From grazing Tibetan antelope to migrating monarch butterflies, these 50 photos of wildlife around the world capture the staggering grace of the animal kingdom. The forthcoming gallery runs sequentially from air to land to water, and focuses on birds, land mammals, aquatic life, and insects as they work in pairs or groups, or sometimes all on their own.

Gallery Credit: Nicole Caldwell