Petita the elephant celebrated her 50th birthday this morning at Terra Natura Benidorm. We have hosted a big party to commemorate the anniversary of this emblematic elephant, known for her story of overcoming when she arrived at the park, 18 years ago now.

More than 4,000 people attended the festivities to celebrate its half century of life, a very significant date for us. The event began at 11 a.m. with a welcome at the entrance area to Terra Natura, Pangea, where a ceremony took place with the visitors present, who had the traditional Hindu bindi placed on their foreheads.

To close the celebration, the traditional Holi Festival took place, which is organised every year to commemorate Petita’s birthday, a great battle of colours and water in which red, yellow, pink, orange, lilac, green and blue powders were thrown to create an impressive effect.

A story of overcoming

The celebration of the 50th anniversary of this elephant is special because of the number itself, but also because of the story of overcoming that this animal hides. When Petita arrived at Terra Natura Benidorm she was discriminated against by her herd, as she was considered ugly by her peers due to her thinness. In the eyes of her companions, this thinness made her an unattractive specimen. But thanks to the help of her inseparable companion, Kaiso, the elephant overcame this rejection and was finally accepted by the herd.