Oregon Zoo's Prized Pachyderm Plays In Puddles To Beat The Heat: Watch

PORTLAND, OR — Is 8 years old too old to still play in mud? Not if you're an Asian elephant named Samudra.

After all, as Oregon Zoo officials so astutely pointed out, "You can't spell Samudra without mud."

Posted last week to the Oregon Zoo Facebook page, this video of the 8-year-old Samudra has been viewed more than 88,000 times since July 21. (Sign up for free daily newsletters and Breaking News Alerts for Portland Patch)

Born on Aug. 23, 2008, Samudra has become the zoo's spiritual successor to longtime Oregon Zoo resident Packy, the popular pachyderm who passed away this past February at the age of 54.

Samudra, or Sam, is one of five Asian elephants currently living at the Oregon Zoo in the new Elephant Lands exhibit, which along with mud wallows offers the elephant tenants a 160,000-gallon pool, water features, and feeding stations to encourage 14 to 16 hours of physical activity per day, according to the zoo's website.

Open from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Sept. 30, visit the Oregon Zoo's Elephant Lands to see Samudra today.

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Photo Courtesy: Oregon Zoo