More than 4,000 people wanted to accompany the emblematic Elefanta Petita today as she celebrated her 51st birthday at Terra Natura Benidorm. The attendees took an active part in the programme, which began in Pangea with a show by a Hindu entertainment group who welcomed the public by placing the traditional bindi or tidak on their foreheads, which according to Hindu culture symbolises wisdom.

The procession then moved on to the park’s amphitheatre to watch the informative show of birds of prey, after which one of the most emotional moments of the celebration began: the offering of fruit and vegetables for the birthday girl Petita and her companion Kaiso in the elephant meadows.

The most popular elephants at Terra Natura Benidorm have tasted a great dessert prepared by their keepers, with apples, tomatoes, watermelons, among other fruits and vegetables, while all attendees chanted the traditional happy birthday to the protagonist of the day.

The festivities then moved to the village of Namastepur, where the spectacular Holi party took place, which every year floods Aqua Natura with colour, joy and fun on the occasion of the birthday of the Little Elephant. During the celebration, more than 320 kilos of pigmented powder, 3,500 bottles of coloured water and 10 cannons with coloured powder under pressure were used. The large number of people attending this battle of colours and water created a multicoloured atmosphere that attracts more and more followers every year.

Petita’s story

When Petita arrived at Terra Natura Benidorm in 2004, she was initially discriminated against by her herd, as she was considered ugly by her peers due to her thinness and according to the canons of her species. In the eyes of her peers, this thinness made her physically unattractive. However, thanks to the help of her inseparable companion, Kaiso, the elephant overcame this rejection and was finally accepted by the herd until she was fully integrated. Since her arrival 18 years ago, the park celebrates this festival to commemorate the birth of this emblematic elephant.