8.12.2022 – Photos by Nel Hoekstra
The 9th of October during the night a baby elephant was born in the Rotterdam Zoo (Diergaarde Blijdorp). The calf is a boy and his name is Max.
The son of Faya and Fahim was named after his grandfather Maximus. The little one is doing very well. After a short period in the delivery room, he is now outside every day with nice weather.
For mother Faya, this is her first young, they are doing well. Faya is well supported by her mother Bangka who has become a grandmother for the first time. The Blijdorp elephant family now has four generations, which is very special.
Rocks, branches, water, everything is new to him and is being tried while mum and grandma keep an eye on him.
His young uncle Radjik is also very excited to play with him!
Uncle Radjik 18 months (!) and Maxi 1 month are already best friends!
Thank you very much dear Nel and Mervi.
Best wishes to all the elephants in Rotterdam Zoo.
MAX’ parents and his uncle and grandma have got interesting names (FAYA and FAHIM and RADJIK and BANGKA !) – it seems amazing that their son’s name is MAX 😉
Elephants are most lovable animals. I always would like to cuddle them . . .!
Thanks, dear Mervi, for having presented this lovely family at “Rotterdam Zoo (Diergaarde Blijdorp)”, crowned by gorgeous photos from Nel Hoekstra (a new KM-friend of yours?).
PS – OT:
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Gab es vor langer Zeit (als meine Großeltern(!) noch begeisterte Eiskunstlaufzuschauer/-besucher in Garmisch-Partenkirchen und wir noch Kinder waren, nicht mal eine sehr erfolgreiche niederländische Eiskunstläuferin mit Namen HOEKSTRA (hmmmmm – oder hieß sie DEIKSTRA???
Dear Nel, dear Mervi!
Elephant children have something tremendously touching and you can just love them. Maybe this is triggered by a special form of the Kindchen scheme involving the little trunk and big ears…?
I am a bit jealous of the Diergaarde Blijdorp, which shows two of these little heartbreakers at once. Max and Radjik seem to be very fond of each other.
Thanks for these cute pictures!
Hugs
Anke
Dear Mervi and Nel!
Thank you for this heartwarming story.
Hugs
Ludmila
Dear Nel, dear Mervi!
Five generations in a herd is great for a zoo.
Young elephant children are very lucky when they can play and compete with slightly older siblings. But also the adult elephants in the herd as uncles and aunts are important for the development of an elephant child.
The photos show this in an impressive way!
Thank you for the insight into this family idyll and best regards!
Britta-Gudrun