Today is National Hugging Day, and the sweetest embrace comes from Australia where two elephant brothers show the world why we call them gentle giants. The two Sydney Zoo’s residents was caught on video sharing cuddles as they were sleeping, and people can’t help but fall in love with the heartwarming scene.
Initially shared on Facebook by the zoo’s officials, the adorable video shows the younger brother – Ashoka – comfortably sleeping in the barn, while Kavi is also looking for the perfect spot to take a nap. And what better place, if not next to his loving brother. Though sleeping, Ashoka knows his brother is there and puts on a display of affection that just warms each and every heart.
“Check out the most adorable big spoon little spoon cuddles by resident elephant brothers, Kavi and Ashoka,” Sydney Zoo wrote on Facebook. Take a look:
“Humans aren’t the only ones that hug. Elephants are a social species that thrive from relationships they have with one another, ” Jo Maitland, elephant keeper at the zoo, explained. “Sleeping in close proximity is a natural display of affection and a way elephants’ bond with each other. Seeing animals share such a special bond is one the biggest privileges of being a zookeeper.”
Kavi and Ashoka, both around 7-year-old, have joined Sydney Zoo a couple of years ago as part of a breeding program meant to conserve the threatened Asian Elephant species. Native to South East Asia, there are less than 50,000 individuals left in the wild, and their number decreases every year.
Below you can watch the moment the two brothers arrived at Sydney Zoo!