The Newest, Cutest Baby Animals from the World's Zoos & Aquariums

Mr. Shuffles Gets a Name, and a Major Mud Bath!

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Just days after officially being named Pathi Harn (pronounced ‘par tea harn’ and meaning 'miracle' in Thai), elephant baby Mr. Shuffles enjoyed a mud bath with older cousin Luk Chai. Shuffles, who was thought to have died during labor, continues to thrive at Sydney Australia's Taronga
Zoo. Today marked his 3 week birthday!

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4477183155_edebbcdcfePhoto Credits: Bobby-Jo Vial

Watch a video and read more about the 'Miracle Calf' below the fold!

Luk Chai and Pathi Harn are spending a lot of time playing together. Pathi Harn is becoming more confident around Luk Chai and actually pushing on him and chasing him around. Luk Chai runs off and then circles back to play some more. Luk Chai is being really good, very gentle with the smaller calf.

Over the last couple of days during morning bath times, we get out the baby pool for Pathi Harn. He doesn't get all the way in yet, but puts first one foot and then another into the water. He likes to swish it around with his trunk. We've brought Luk Chai into the barn to show Pathi Harn how much fun he can have in the bath. Luk Chai loves his bath.

The two calves go in the mud wallow a lot together. When Porntip stands next to the wallow to get a drink from the hose, Pathi Harn gets straight in the mud to play.

He's becoming more confident all round and leaving mum a bit more often to go off and explore. He's actually charging around the paddock from elephant to elephant, Tang Mo has taken great interest in him, she loves the babies. This has brought her and Porntip close.

16 responses to “Mr. Shuffles Gets a Name, and a Major Mud Bath!”

  1. Laura Avatar
    Laura

    This little guy is so adorable, and I love the choice of name for him. The day after the first post here about his birth after such a long labor and the fear that he’d died during it, I was afraid the check the next day thinking that he might not have made it. But he did, and look at him now! This is just an amazing story, it makes me want to hop a plane to Australia to go see him!

    Reply
  2. Jen Avatar
    Jen

    Once a Mr. Shuffles, always a Mr. Shuffles!

    Reply
  3. Tom Flapwell Avatar
    Tom Flapwell

    Party hearty, Pathi Harn!

    Reply
  4. Lisa Avatar
    Lisa

    Hard to imagine anyone could destroy these intelligent and obviously emotionally complex creatures.

    Reply
  5. Jill Elizabeth Avatar
    Jill Elizabeth

    I’m with Jen. He will always be Mr. Shuffles to me.

    Reply
  6. Beverly Avatar
    Beverly

    LOL Tom Flapwell – that is the first thing that came to my mind when I read his name! He appears in the video to do just that.

    Reply
  7. Angel Avatar
    Angel

    Um, please don’t stop referring to him as Mr. Shuffles. I feel like this (or Pipsqueak for the Red Panda) might be the cutest zooborn name ever.

    Reply
  8. maxon Avatar
    maxon

    That’s lovely. I’m glad to see his eyes have returned to normal. It’s great to see him settling into his family life and fantastic he has a young cousin and, no doubt, lifelong friend to play with.

    Reply
  9. TJ Avatar
    TJ

    It is absolutely adorable just to see Pathi Harn and his cousin Luk Chai as good time buddies and having a real fun time !. It is truly wonderful to see when Pathi Harn alias “Mr Shuffles” to be brought into this world with a cousin Luk Chai already awaiting to welcome him. I just love these two babies!

    Reply
  10. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    I love how, in the video, he was trying to pick things up with his little noodle trunk, like the grown-up elephants!

    Reply
  11. Terrie Avatar
    Terrie

    Just keep hanging around his rambunctious,colorful, and crazy cousin Luk Chai, Pathi Harn alias “Mr. Shuffles” will be just like him!! These two little guys will be quite a handful for the zookeepers and never a dull moment at the Taronga Zoo!!!

    Reply
  12. Smilla Avatar
    Smilla

    Love them so much, especially Mr Shuffles, and the way the elephant family looks after him. I’m off to Taronga Zoo to see them this weekend. Can’t wait!

    Reply
  13. Tessa Avatar
    Tessa

    The more I keep looking at these pictures, I simply adore these two very adorable and very mischievious elephant babies, “Mr Shuffles” and Luk Chai who are just having a ball of a lifetime!!! Cousin Luk Chai is doing an excellent job being like a big brother to his little cousin “Mr. Shuffles”! These two happy little butterballs are inseparable..so cute!!!! Taronga Zoo staff are doing a great job taking care of their charges.

    Reply
  14. Michelle Avatar
    Michelle

    Kudos to mom Porntip…she is so gentle and has so much patience with her little baby boy elephant!!!! Pathi Harn alias Mr Shuffles seems getting more confident each day and is getting into more things with his cousin Luk Chai!

    Reply
  15. MLD Avatar
    MLD

    I love elephants so much, and was so overjoyed at this. The video makes me cry happy tears. Mr Shuffles, Pathi Harn, or Miracle, it all describes the same beautiful baby.

    Reply
  16. Rachel Avatar
    Rachel

    It is so wonderful to see Pathi Harn enjoying life to the hilt and getting into more mischief with his cousin Luk Chai!!! Mommy Porntip is a very good natured mother who never seems to chastise her little boy when he gets into things and just allowing him to have fun with his cousin Luk Chai!!!! The elephants are all adorable!!! Hope to see more updates and pictures on Pathi Harn and Luk Chai!!!

    Reply

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