Elephant bull leaves ARTIS Zoo, two elephants pregnant
- 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
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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