A rather parched mother elephant was filmed sticking her head in the sand in front of onlookers at a safari park.
The smart elephant was spotted digging for water far below the ground and then transferring the water into her mouth as her calf looked on at the amusing sight.
The comical footage was filmed by Patrick Ellis, 60, at Kruger National Park in northeastern South Africa.
Elephant buries his head in the sand whilst digging for water
A mother elephant searches for water by sticking her head in the sand in front of onlookers at Kruger National Park in northeastern South Africa
The elephant uses her trunk to search for water sources deep underground at Kruger National Park before transferring the water into her mouth. According to onlookers the thirsty elephant spent around 20 minutes drinking
The amusing footage was filmed by Patrick Ellis, 60, who was visiting Kruger National Park in South Africa with his wife and son
Mr Ellis, who was on the safari trip with his wife, Topaz, and son, Daniel, on September 15, filmed the big elephant drop to her knees in an effort to find water.
Due to the shortage of water in dams and rivers in the area elephants typically use their trunks to reach for water underground.
According to onlookers the elephant spent around 20 minutes drinking from the deep hole.
Due to their size, elephants require an enormous amount of food and water and typically drink more than 40 gallons of water a day.
The mother elephant sinks her trunk into the sandy ground for water as her calf waits patiently behind her
Elephants typically drink more than 40 gallons of water a day and require an enormous amount of food due to their size
Elephants will usually dig for water during periods of drought and can sometimes walk long distances in search of a water source
Their ability to dig with their trunks in order to locate underground water sources helps them provide not only themselves but many other species with water during droughts.
During periods of drought elephants are also known to walk long distances in search of a water source.
Last year, a herd were seen walking in a long line through the scorched Tsavo National Park in Kenya before finally finding a broken water pipe to quench their thirst.