A herd of intelligent African savanna elephants drink clean water from wells they dug themselves in Mopani, South Africa.

Also commonly knows as Loxodonta Africana, this maternal herd gathered at the bed of the Mphongolo River in February 2020.

The elephants, including claves, suck water from shallow wells they dug in the river sand with their tusks, and avoid having to drink water fouled by other animals.

Bob Humphries, the filmer, told Newsflare: "They love water – not only to drink, but also to play in, and to cool off on hot days. Either by submerging if the water is deep enough or by spraying themselves with trunkfuls of it."

African Savanna Elephants (Loxodonta africana) love water – not only to drink, but also to play in, and to cool off on hot days , either by submerging if the water is deep enough, or by spraying themselves with trunkfuls of it. Elephants also want clean water to drink. This maternal herd in the bed of the Mphongolo River split into two groups. One group played and splashed around in a river pool, while the other sucked water from shallow wells they had dug in the river sand with their tusks. In this way, they avoid having to drink water that had been fouled by other animals. Even the baby elephants in the herd drank from a well. One little male drank for a while, then played in a well before leaving with his mother.