The imposing elephant weighing almost 6 tons that arrived at Bioparc Valencia just 15 days ago from Sweden, has begun to explore the space that recreates the savanna. Kibo's vision is truly spectacular and all Valencians will have the opportunity to come and meet him and welcome him taking advantage of the upcoming holiday of October 9.
Monday, October 7, 2013.
Everything indicates that the male african savanna elephant (Loxodonta Africana) received in Foundation On September 19, he perfectly accepted his new home. Kibo was born at the Hannover Zoo, Germany, in 1977 and has spent the last 27 years at the Boras Zoo in Sweden, and it seems that the pleasant Valencian climate has accelerated her adaptation, as has already made its first trips to the outer enclosure of the Sabana. His acclimatization, both to the spaces and to his new caregivers, is being very positive and is going as planned.
This impressive pachyderm up close 6 tons of weight has been incorporated into the Bioparc herd for reproductive purposes. The European Endangered Species Breeding Program (EEP), considered its transfer as a priority in order to maintain active reproductive groups with the necessary genetic variability. Kibo is one of the few males of proven fertility that exist in Europe. In fact, she has already sired 5 offspring: the first 3 are females, Kwanza in 2001, Pili in 2003 and Panzi in 2005. Her first child, M'Changa was born in 2008 and the last in May this year.
The African savanna elephant is the largest land mammal in existence. Throughout the 20th century there was enormous decline in its population due to the brutal persecution to which it was subjected due to ivory trafficking. The international regulation of trade in this product through the CITES convention, as well as the stability of some African countries, has led to the recovery of the populations of southern Africa and stability in those of the east, while decline continues in West Africa, where it is estimated that barely 10.000 adults remain, and declining. In this area of the continent, with a high human population density, poaching to feed the international demand for ivory is combined with the destruction and fragmentation of the habitat due to the reconversion of the land for agricultural or industrial uses.
