Petita and her inseparable companion Kaiso received a special tribute during an event that brought together Indian culture, nature, and environmental awareness.

Today at Terra Natura Benidorm we celebrated a truly special occasion, as more than 4,000 visitors joined Petita the elephant to mark her 53rd birthday. The celebration coincided with a new edition of the Benidorm Holi Festival, which filled the park with music, dance and vibrant colours in an event that blended tradition, nature, and inclusion.

The festivities began at 11:00 a.m., when visitors were welcomed with the traditional bindi or tilak on their foreheads, a cultural symbol of protection and wisdom. A colourful parade of musicians and dancers in saris then made its way through the park to the elephant meadow, where Petita and her inseparable companion Kaiso were presented with an offering of fresh fruit and vegetables, while a gentle rendition of “Happy Birthday” was sung.

The celebration continued in Namastepur village, which became the epicentre of the event with the eagerly awaited colour battle. More than 320 kilos of powdered pigments and bottles of tinted water in eight shades filled the air, accompanied by Bollywood music and choreography that encouraged visitors of all ages to join in the fun.

In the afternoon, the party moved to Aqua Natura water park, where a DJ and a spectacular colour foam party provided the grand finale to a day that stood out for its family-friendly, festive and participatory spirit.

Commitment to Asian elephant conservation

Alongside the celebration, Terra Natura Benidorm also highlighted the situation of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), which is listed as endangered by the IUCN. The park is currently home to four individuals of this species, including Petita and Kaiso, who share a close emotional bond. In recent years, our team of keepers has implemented welfare protocols based on regular veterinary check-ups, positive reinforcement training, balanced diets and enrichment activities tailored to their needs.

Asian elephants play a crucial role as “ecosystem engineers”, contributing to forest regeneration and seed dispersal, both of which are vital to maintaining natural balance. However, in the wild they continue to face major threats, including habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, poaching and climate change.

At Terra Natura Benidorm, this special day was also an opportunity to strengthen our educational and awareness efforts, sharing values of respect, friendship and inclusion through an event that united culture and conservation, with one of the park’s most iconic animals at its heart.