Elephant bull leaves ARTIS Zoo, two elephants pregnant

News ARTIS Zoo

7 November 2025

At ARTIS Zoo, the elephant bull has departed for his next destination: WILDLANDS. The bull was introduced to the herd of Asian elephants last March in the hope of producing offspring, and that has been successful.

Two elephants are pregnant. The exchange within the Netherlands was made possible thanks to a recommendation from the coordinator of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) for the Asian elephant. Blijdorp Zoo is the coordinator of the studbook.

Travelling through

ARTIS Zoo is home to a close-knit herd led by the oldest cow, the matriarch. Strong family ties and raising young are crucial to the social well-being of the herd. Bulls only join the herd when there are opportunities for mating; afterwards, they move on, as is currently the case with this bull.

At ARTIS Zoo, the bull integrated into the herd with remarkable ease. With his calm character and social attitude, he quickly found his place within the group. His presence was also valuable for the young five-year-old male, who was able to learn a lot from his older counterpart about social behaviour and interaction within the herd.

''We are pleased that the bull has made his contribution to the herd. Now that he has departed, the focus is once again entirely on the herd itself. The pregnant elephants are doing well; we are closely monitoring their development. At the moment, there is little to see, but we are eagerly looking forward to what the coming months will bring.'', according to Peter Bleesing, team leader of animal care at ARTIS Zoo.

Elephant pregnancy

Faecal testing can be used to determine whether an elephant is pregnant by analysing the hormone levels in its faeces. Recent research shows that two females at ARTIS are pregnant. The gestation period for elephants is 20 to 22 months. Due to their weight, pregnancy is only visible at a late stage, so there is little to see at this point. The birth of two calves is particularly valuable for the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP).

Important role in species conservation

The Asian elephant is seriously endangered, mainly due to habitat loss and poaching. ARTIS Zoo participates in the European species conservation programme to build up a healthy population of Asian elephants in zoos. The arrival of two calves is therefore of great value: they contribute to the international studbook and support scientific research that promotes the protection of the species in the wild.

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