AN elephant has found the best way to cool down in the UK heat wave — by taking an underwater swim at Blackpool Zoo.

The beautiful Asian animal Tara, one of two new additions at the zoo's Project Elephant development, made the most of the facilities recently by taking a dip in the outdoor pool.

Adam Kenyon, head of elephants at Blackpool Zoo, said: “As you can see from the footage, elephants love water and are excellent divers.

“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.

“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.