Elephants are large animals that may frighten some people, yet they are
also kind and generous.
A touching event occurred when an elephant touched trunks with her
granddaughter and daughter in a zoo in Germany after being away from them
for 12 years.
While bull elephants often leave the herd to find a mate, female elephants
frequently spend the remainder of their lives living with their moms.
The family reunion is part of a plan to eventually mimic this natural
process in herds held in captivity.
At the Bergzoo in the eastern city of Halle, Pori, a 39-year-old elephant,
and Tana, a 19-year-old elephant, were reunited after 12 years apart. Pori
had previously called Berlin home. The grandma was also introduced to
Tamika, 4, and Elani, 1, for the first time.
African elephant Tana, who is 19 years old, and her mother Pori, who is 39
years old, are shown together for the first time in 12 years. She was also
seen petting her 4-year-old granddaughter Tamika's trunks after they had
just met.
The elephant house will be closed for a bit while the family gets back
together.
In order to give the elephants some time to relax and reacquaint
themselves, the elephant house will temporarily stay closed, but visitors
will still be able to see the elephants in their natural habitat.
Although Pori and her young are now separated by an enclosure, they will
spend time outside together in the following days to get to know one
another.
Pori an African elephant, was transported from Zimbabwe, where she was born
in the wild, to Germany in 1981. Pori resided at the Magdeburg Zoo from 1983
until 1997 before being sent to Tierpark Berlin for breeding.
In their native habitat, elephants live in family groupings, each of which
is led by a lead member. Young bulls typically live with their mothers their
entire lives, unlike daughters who typically leave the herd as soon as they
reach sexual maturity.
According to the zoo's director, Dr. Dennis Muller, "Pori's arrival in
Halle represents a significant advancement in contemporary elephant
management." Future management of all elephant herds in European zoos should
follow such natural family systems. Today, we are a great deal nearer to
achieving this goal.
The elephant population in zoos is monitored as part of a conservation
breeding program (EEP), which is run by committees comprised of specialists
from various zoos. The new herd compositions and subsequent animal movements
are decided by these committees.
Please think about telling your family and friends about this story if you
enjoyed it so they can experience nature's splendor.
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animals