Asian elephants at the Safari in Israel got a special World Cup-themed enrichment activity on Wednesday morning, with colorful, rolling soccer balls placed in their yard. The goal was to spark curiosity, movement and play, and the elephants responded by chasing, pushing, rolling, kicking and investigating how the balls reacted to touch and motion.
The Safari said the activity was more than entertainment. It helps the elephants exercise their bodies and senses, while also giving them a chance to explore through touch, movement and texture. Playing with the balls combines coordination between their feet and trunks, leg movement, fine motor skills and tactile exploration.
According to the Safari, elephants use touch extensively as part of how they learn about the world, which made the balls a particularly engaging sensory experience. As the human World Cup waits for kickoff, the elephants have already started their own game.