Posted by: Laura Lockard, Communications/Public Affairs
From Borneo to Seattle, elephants embrace their bath time. We all know the feeling when you first step into the shower after working in the yard all day. Elephants at Woodland Park Zoo not only get an extended, luxurious shower, they also enjoy a quatro-pedi and a good exfoliation with a special elephant brush.
I recently had the pleasure of joining the elephant keepers as they brought Watoto into the shower barn. There she greeted them with a long, trunky sniff and then was ready for her bath with the garden hose. Her giantess turned attentively as she followed her keeper’s soft commands, “Watoto right, Watoto turn, Watoto back.” All the washing while, she was inquisitively seeking that next snack. Carrots seem to be her treat of choice.
Even more outstanding was her sheer willingness to lift each foot, easily balancing on the other three while another keeper gave her a good pedi scrubbing with nail cleaning and check. Once her feet were cleaned, Watoto was then scrubbed with a disproportionately small bristle brush. Just like when you have that impossible itch between your shoulder blades that only a dear one can scratch for you, it was clear Watoto was having a similar “ahhhh” moment as when you finally get the itchy spot resolved. For her it seemed those little folds just near her ears were the “Can you get that for me?” itchy place.
All of this showering and pedicuring serves a much larger purpose than just washing the dirt off. The elephant spa provides the keepers with an opportunity to do their daily overview of her skin, feet, tongue, teeth, bum, belly, back, and emotional state. She certainly seems to enjoy the lavish, caring experience; certainly there is an enthusaiasm to partake in the activity well beyond the carrot-based incentives.
Once Watoto’s spa appointment was complete she meandered back to the exhibit. As her keeper put it, “You know the funny thing about it? She goes right out there and first thing covers herself with dirt.”
You can see the elephants get their baths in the morning at the zoo’s Elephant Barn in the Elephant Forest exhibit. There’s no exact schedule since the elephants call the shots, but baths usually start around 9:30 in the morning and can go for an hour or two in the barn.
Asian elephant Bamboo shows us how bath time is done. Video by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.
From Borneo to Seattle, elephants embrace their bath time. We all know the feeling when you first step into the shower after working in the yard all day. Elephants at Woodland Park Zoo not only get an extended, luxurious shower, they also enjoy a quatro-pedi and a good exfoliation with a special elephant brush.
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Watoto gets a massage with a special brush. Photo by Ryan
Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.
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I recently had the pleasure of joining the elephant keepers as they brought Watoto into the shower barn. There she greeted them with a long, trunky sniff and then was ready for her bath with the garden hose. Her giantess turned attentively as she followed her keeper’s soft commands, “Watoto right, Watoto turn, Watoto back.” All the washing while, she was inquisitively seeking that next snack. Carrots seem to be her treat of choice.
 |
Asian elephant Bamboo demonstrates how cooperative the
zoo’s elephants are with their foot care.
Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo. |
Even more outstanding was her sheer willingness to lift each foot, easily balancing on the other three while another keeper gave her a good pedi scrubbing with nail cleaning and check. Once her feet were cleaned, Watoto was then scrubbed with a disproportionately small bristle brush. Just like when you have that impossible itch between your shoulder blades that only a dear one can scratch for you, it was clear Watoto was having a similar “ahhhh” moment as when you finally get the itchy spot resolved. For her it seemed those little folds just near her ears were the “Can you get that for me?” itchy place.
Asian elephant Chai takes a sip...OK, more like a big gulp during bath time. Video by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.
Then came the
tongue rub and mouth check. Watoto’s bright pink tongue changed shapes as her
keeper inspected her teeth. She then took that hose like a giant straw and had
a very long sip, which was probably just a drop in that bucket of an elephant
tummy. Watoto gives drinking from the fire hose a whole new meaning.
 |
Helpful Watoto returns a food dish to her keeper. Photo
by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.
|
All of this showering and pedicuring serves a much larger purpose than just washing the dirt off. The elephant spa provides the keepers with an opportunity to do their daily overview of her skin, feet, tongue, teeth, bum, belly, back, and emotional state. She certainly seems to enjoy the lavish, caring experience; certainly there is an enthusaiasm to partake in the activity well beyond the carrot-based incentives.
 |
Watoto up close. Photo by Dennis Conner/Woodland Park
Zoo.
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Once Watoto’s spa appointment was complete she meandered back to the exhibit. As her keeper put it, “You know the funny thing about it? She goes right out there and first thing covers herself with dirt.”
 |
Watoto outside. Photo by Dennis Conner/Woodland Park Zoo.
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You can see the elephants get their baths in the morning at the zoo’s Elephant Barn in the Elephant Forest exhibit. There’s no exact schedule since the elephants call the shots, but baths usually start around 9:30 in the morning and can go for an hour or two in the barn.
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