Sad farewell: elephants Rani and Savani leave Zoo Leipzig!

Sad farewell: elephants Rani and Savani leave Zoo Leipzig!

The Leipzig Zoo celebrates its 147th birthday today, but overshadowed by a sad event: the two elephants Rani and her daughter Savani had to leave the zoo. A big crane was visible in the zoo on May 20 to transport a large green container in which the two elephants were located. The transport has been announced to save Rani the difficulties she had in the existing herd. Their integration into the Leipzig elephant herd was recently shaped by conflicts, especially with the elephants Kewa and Astra. This led to frequent separations from Rani, which ultimately caused the decision to submit the animals to the Munich Zoo. According to TAG24, the move was a recommendation of the European conservation breeding program (EEP) to give Rani and Savani the opportunity to give its own family line to build up.

The transport itself went smoothly, and both animals were able to explore their new quarters after their arrival. Two familiar nurses from Leipzig accompanied Rani and Savani and remain on site to support the settlement of the elephants. Animal park director Rasem Baban from Munich emphasizes the importance of a careful transition phase. The two elephants should gradually be used to their new roommates Otto, Temi, Mangala and Gajendra to avoid tensions and enable them to adapt.

background and breeding programs

The decision to submit Rani and Savani is also related to the requirements and goals of the European conservation breeding program. This program was launched to ensure the genetic diversity in Zoos after the "Convention for International Trade with Endangered Species" came into force in 1975. As a result, Zoos had to take care of their offspring to avoid inbreeding and prevent genetic defects. This has led to increased cooperation between European zoos, which exchange animals and develop breeding programs.

The current structure and the Standards for keeping zoo animals are based on more than 100 instructions that were specified by the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA). These standards are crucial for preservation, research and the formation of visitors. Zoos must comply with strict EAZA guidelines in order to meet responsible use of animals and their species-appropriate attitude, which is particularly important in cases such as Rani and Savani to guarantee the well-being of animals and to support their integration into new communities.