A heartwarming moment was captured at Kalawewa National Park in Sri Lanka when a young elephant climbed on top of its larger friend for a playful piggyback ride. The adorable photos were taken by photographer Pathum Bandara, who was observing a herd of over 200 elephants at the time.

According to Mr. Bandara, baby elephants are known for being very playful, and it was a joy to witness these two elephants having fun together. The playful calf was seen climbing onto the back of its larger companion while flashing a cheeky smile.

The photograph depicts a baby elephant attempting to hitch a ride on his friend’s back, a moment that the photographer referred to as a ‘free ride.’ The calf’s playful demeanor is evident in the mischievous glint in his eye, which was skillfully captured by the photographer as he looked in the elephant’s direction.

The images portray the young elephant comfortably perched on the back of the larger elephant, and the two animals appear to be enjoying their playful moment.

The photographer, Mr. Bandara, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to capture such a clean shot of the two elephants looking straight at the camera, and considered it an honor.This touching moment serves as a reminder of the playful nature of elephants and the strong bonds they share with each other, making it a delightful sight for animal enthusiasts worldwide.

Other elephants around the herd didn’t appear to mind. The Sri Lanka national park is populated by hundreds of elephants. Source: Daily Mail

The beautiful giant mammal even leans his trunk onto the exhausted-looking friend. The trunk goes way down his body.