Many animals are musically inclined, and recently we’ve seen an uptick in puppies playing the pots and pans and singing along with the car radio. However, watching a baby elephant play the recorder was definitely not on my bucket list—but it is now!
Kirkja, an 18-month-old African elephant, has recently discovered her many musical talents, and the zookeepers at the Toledo Zoo shared an adorable video demonstration on TikTok.
In the clip, one of the keepers holds a pink plastic recorder to the end of the little pachyderm’s trunk. As Kirkja makes contact with the instrument, the staff member says, “Blow,” and the adorable baby elephant does exactly that—producing the cutest little note in the process.
But it doesn’t end there! Next up, the sweet little elephant “plays” the harmonica, which is just as cute as it sounds. However, the final instrument was the fan favorite: they taught her to play a wooden train whistle, and OMG—it was almost too cute to handle.
Related: Blind Rhino and His Baby Elephant Bestie Share Extra-Special Daily Greeting
As with any great concert, viewers flooded the comments section—each one was a little funnier than the last. A few highlights include:
“This is actually very dangerous because she will grow up and start a one-man band and leave you to go on world tour!”
“Does she take requests and is Piano Man in her repertoire?”
“How does one apply for the job of ‘Baby Elephant Music Therapist’?”
“So LITERALLY every species must be tortured by their child having to learn the recorder!”
Fun Facts About Elephant Trunks
As an African elephant, Kirkja has two “fingers” at the tip of her trunk—one on the top and one on the bottom—which allows her to grip objects more precisely. (Asian elephants only have one.)
According to Wildlife SOS, an elephant’s trunk contains nearly 40,000 muscles, allowing it to do everything from knock over large trees to picking up small blades of grass. It functions similarly to a human tongue, assisting with eating, drinking, and making loud sounds, called trumpeting, to communicate.
The elephant trunk can also stretch up to 20 feet and contains powerful scent receptors, making it an important sensory tool.
The Toledo Zoo staff explained that the musical playtime isn’t just cute—it’s enrichment with a purpose. Teaching Kirkja to “blow” helps their veterinary team collect nasal samples, which can be tested for bacteria and other health markers. So not only is sweet Kirkja getting her 10 minutes of fame—she’s staying healthy while doing it.
This story was originally reported by PetHelpful on Sep 18, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.