Hope you've packed your trunks! Blackpool Zoo elephant enjoys a dip in the pool

Chunky dunking is where it is at this summer as three-tonne Tara from Blackpool Zoo finds the perfect way to cool down
Tara the elephant swimming at Blackpool ZooTara the elephant swimming at Blackpool Zoo
Tara the elephant swimming at Blackpool Zoo

The Asian elephant, one of two new residents to arrive at the attraction’s multi-million pound Project Elephant development earlier this year, has been making the most of the facilities by taking a dip in the outdoor pool.

The zoo's head of elephants, Adam Kenyon, said: "As you can see from the footage, elephants love water and are excellent divers!

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“We have all been watching Tara swim around under water and pop her trunk up like a snorkel to breathe – she really has been having a whale of a time!

Tara the elephant swimming at Blackpool ZooTara the elephant swimming at Blackpool Zoo
Tara the elephant swimming at Blackpool Zoo

“Despite their size elephants can swim easily as they are quite buoyant with strong legs and feet that they can splay to help them along their way!

“Tara loves nothing more than a swim before enjoying a cooling dust bath in the hot weather – which is truly a sight to behold!”

Blackpool Zoo’s Project Elephant Base Camp opened in Spring after Tara and Minbu moved from Twycross Zoo to join resident Asian elephant Kate.

Two more, mother and daughter Noorjahan and Esha are set to make the 150-mile, cross-country journey later in the year.

The search is on to find a suitable bull elephant to complete the herd.

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