Elephant Who 'Hates Water' Swims Daily - The Reason Is Heartwarming

There are some animals out there who've gained a reputation for being totally against water. You may have heard that all cats really hate water, for instance. But what about elephants? Well, no current reports show that elephants are inclined to despise water. However, that doesn't stop Malai the elephant from hating it, as shown on YouTube. Yet, one heartwarming reason keeps her wading, and you truly have to see it to believe.

In a video by The Dodo, Malai was blind in one eye when she was rescued by Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) in 2016. One year later, Alicia arrived, fully blind, along with many other injuries. The real surprise for shelter rescuers, however, was the immediate bond the two senior elephants created after that. Though living with other elephants in a large enclosure, they're rarely seen apart.

The sweetest thing? Despite Malai hating water, she joins water-loving Alicia any time she swims, acting as her blind friend's "guide and bodyguard." In fact, Malai keeps watch over Alicia throughout the day as she explores, just to make sure she's safe. Malai and Alicia truly have a very special friendship.

Malai and Alicia are a wonderful example of elephants' desire for closeness and ability to be empathetic. Often described as gentle giants, these animals have a strong ability to comfort each other in stressful moments — just like Malai did for Alicia. They're also very social animals. In the wild, elephants seem to prefer functioning as larger family units, or herds. However, their herds tend to be matriarchal, or female-led.

While females stay in the group they were born into, males often leave around adolescence and live more isolated lives. The matriarch of the herd is usually the oldest and largest female, and is both the lead protector and emotional support. It sounds like an exhausting job (seriously, check out these tired animal moms to share with your mother if you can relate). Elephants communicate through all of their senses, from low infrasonic rumbles (meaning sounds that are below human hearing) to using body language gestures with their trunks. Fun fact: they can even pick up low vibrations to communicate with their feet!

If you're wondering if elephants understand how to speak to humans, here's what we know: A 2014 study by scientists from the UK and Kenya found that African elephants could tell the age and gender of people based on certain sounds. However, more distinct information on elephant-human communication is still to be discovered. What's definitely clear? An elephant bond is a special thing, and witnessing it is totally a gift; thanks to Malai and Alicia!