A Wraxall zoo has a welcomed addition to form the UK’s first African elephant bull facility.
Shaka has arrived at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, in Clevedon Road, from Vienna in a transfer organised by the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP).
MORE: UK’s only African elephant bachelor group coming to Noah’s Ark Zoo.
Dr Harald Schwammer, vice director at Vienna Zoo, said: “Shaka is a calm and playful elephant who loves his food.
“We are very happy to be working with Noah’s Ark again, which has one of the biggest elephant facilities available in the EEP.”
Shaka, who is 26 years old, is joining two young bulls, nine-year-old M’Changa and Janu, aged 12, in the facility.
Male elephants will naturally group together with other solitary males to form bachelor groups.
Sandra de Rek, head elephant keeper at the zoo, said: “It will be great for the public to witness the natural and playful behaviour of a bachelor group of elephants first hand, which is rare.”
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