Blijdorp Content with birth of baby elephant – De Stentor

Big celebration in Rotterdam Zoo. On the night of Wednesday to Thursday in the Rotterdam zoo olifantkoe Bangka (14) gave birth to a calf. That birth after 22 months of gestation was at hand, appeared Tuesday already, when the levels of the hormone progesterone suddenly fell sharply, a sign that the baby pachyderm was en route

The newly minted mini slurfje is already the 16th elephant calf which is born in Blijdorp. The first was 30 years ago, the famous thick Bernhardine, which in 1984 was the first elephant born in a Dutch zoo. Bangka has a daughter, Faya (July 2010)

Although it is number 16 in Rotterdam, the birthplace remains of such a heavyweight -. At around 80 kilos – special. ,, It is anyway an animal species unwise exudes a lot of love, ” said nurse Sunny Blom earlier. ,, Large and unwieldy, but also very gentle. How the animals deal with such a small, wonderful is that. And all the aunts and uncles do it. “

Wonderful event

 Zoo employee Martin van Wees, coordinator of the European breeding program of the Asian elephant, has so far been involved in all the births of elephants in the Rotterdam zoo. And although caregivers always in the proximity of such a wonderful event, but they can do very little with the birth itself.

,, That elephants are born in the group was 25 years ago, is not yet possible . The fear was that a mother would kill the little stairs. Now the elephant cows look on the art of others. And elephant Irma always made in the past for extra protection, by everyone to keep the young away so that the mother could respite. ”

Since 1991 is kept a studbook for these elephants kind. ,, When there were only 12 gardens in Europe bred elephants. Now there are 32, with a total of 297 elephants. From Japan and America come here they see how we manage that. ”

Herd

 The now existing herd of seven elephants – including male Timber – will initially still remain together. But sometimes it is necessary to split a group, because it is too large or because quarrel arises within the elephant clan. So moved in 2012 to the popular female Bernhardine with sister Yasmin and Anak daughter to Dublin Zoo

Be:. ,, As a carer you will not lose one, but you also do not want you in the long run 40 have. So should there ever a few leave. ”