The celebration included a Holi party where 320 kilos of coloured powder and 3,500 bottles of coloured water were used.

Tucked in like never before. This is how our elephant felt on her 52nd birthday, accompanied by more than 4,000 people who came to Terra Natura to commemorate this special and emotional day. The elephant was rejected by her herd because she did not have the canons of beauty of the species, a rejection that she overcame thanks to the help of her friend Kaiso.

The commemoration of this anniversary began with a welcome to visitors by an Indian entertainment group in the Pangea area. Under the influence of Hindu music and dances, the public began to immerse themselves in the essence of the Holi festival. In the amphitheatre area, an informative show of birds of prey was performed.

Then, the dancers moved to the elephant meadows to offer fruits and vegetables to Petita and her companion Kaiso, who accompanied her at all times. After eating the dessert made with fresh fruit and vegetables, visitors sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to the elephant to commemorate her 52nd birthday in style.

In another area close to the elephant meadows of Terra Natura Benidorm, known as the Namastepur village, the colour battle of the Holi festival took place. For this unique confrontation, more than 320 kilos of pigmented powder, 3,500 bottles of coloured water and 10 spouts with coloured powder under pressure were used.

But the fun doesn’t stop here. The entertainment will continue in the afternoon at the Aqua Natura Benidorm water park, where a big colourful foam party has been prepared, where the rhythm of remember music will accompany visitors.

Petita, a story of friendship and self-improvement

When Petita arrived at Terra Natura Benidorm in 2004, she was discriminated against by her herd, as she was considered ugly by her peers due to her thinness and according to the established canons of this species. In the eyes of her companions, this thinness made her a physically unattractive specimen. However, thanks to the help of her inseparable companion, Kaiso, the elephant overcame this initial rejection and was finally accepted by the herd until she was fully integrated.

Conservation of the species

Asian elephants are in danger of conservation and for this reason they form part of the Endangered Species Breeding Programme (EEP), promoted by the EAZA. Thanks to the work of this association, a reproductive programme has been established to ensure the genetic viability of the species in captivity and guarantee the sustainability of the ex situ population.

Terra Natura Benidorm is participating in the preparation of an international study on the welfare of elephants, which analyses the diet followed by the four female elephants that live in the complex, the body morphology of each specimen and the evolution of the weight they have experienced over the last few years. This scientific study aims to establish a control pattern to measure the body condition of the pachyderms.

From this nature and animal park, conservation is understood as a set of actions that seek to safeguard and increase the survival of endangered animal species (IUCN), either through actions directed towards populations kept in captivity ‘ex situ’ or those within their own natural habitats ‘in situ’.