Former circus elephants due at Belfast Zoo

April 2009

Belfast should brace itself as two retired circus performers pack up their trunks and make their way to the city’s zoo.

Asian elephants, Jenny (48) and 32-year-old Dunja, left their home in Hanover Zoo, Germany yesterday for the three day journey to their new home in north Belfast.

The Asian Elephant breeding programme recommended the zoo here as the best location for a placement for the ex-circus elephants.

They are pictured bidding auf wiedersehen to their German friends, hopefully comforted by the prospect of a friendly welcome in Belfast

Klaus-Michael Machens, director of Hanover Zoo, said: “Of course we’re delighted to find Jenny and Dunja such a good retirement home.

“But we’re also very sad to see them go. Jenny’s lived here for over a quarter of a century – she’s a real Hanover celebrity. We’ll all miss her very much.”

Alyn Cairns, curator of elephants at Belfast Zoo, said the team were excited about the newcomers.

“This year we changed our elephant husbandry techniques. We now care for non-breeding females in a protective contact environment.

“It’s like a retirement home for older elephants that have their own space within the confines of a enclosure.”

Tina, the grand old elephant of the zoo, was joined in February by elephant Yhetto, who came from Krefeld Zoo, Germany.

With the large delivery this weekend, the zoo will now care for four Asian elephants, all of whom will be receiving visitors this Easter.