An elephant is being lauded for its clever act of using its trunk to return a shoe to a visitor in eastern China.

The video was filmed at Shendiaoshan Wildlife World in Weihai City in Shandong Province on August 14.

A young visitor accidentally dropped their shoe into an elephant enclosure. Quick to respond, an elephant, seeing the mishap, curled its trunk around the shoe and returned it to the waiting visitor.

The act drew cheers from the onlookers, with many children exclaiming, "What a smart elephant!"

A zoo staff member provided further insight into the elephant's background. Named "Shanmai," this 26-year-old male Asian elephant is known for his intelligence and friendly nature.

"Shanmai's trunk is incredibly dexterous," said the staff member, noting the elephant's affinity for interacting with guests. "He often engages harmoniously with both keepers and visitors."

It is not Shanmai's first act of shoe-rescue. In August of the previous year, the same elephant had been filmed picking up a shoe for a young visitor, garnering widespread applause.

The video was provided by local media with permission.

8月14日，山东威海西霞口神雕山野生动物世界，一只大象用鼻子帮游客捡鞋获夸赞。现场视频显示，小朋友不慎将鞋子掉进了动物园的大象生活区内，一头大象见状用鼻子卷起鞋子，并将鞋子送到游客手中。围观的小朋友们大声喊道：“大象好聪明啊”。据动物园一名工作人员介绍，这只大象叫“山脉”，是一只26岁的公亚洲象，很聪明很亲人。“山脉”的鼻子非常灵活，它非常喜欢和游客互动，平时跟饲养员和游客互动也挺和谐的。上述工作人员还称，这已经是它第二次被拍到捡鞋了。去年8月，“山脉”就曾帮一名小游客捡鞋，引得阵阵欢呼。“山脉”的象牙断了一根，是和同住的母象打闹时，不小心撞墙上碰断的。