This is the heartwarming moment a female elephant meets her mother and sister for the first time in 28 years.
Endangered Panang has returned to her home in Switzerland after she separated from her mum Ceyla-Himali, 48, and dad Maxi, at the age of six. Moved to the Hellabrunn Zoo, in Munich, Germany in 1995.
Touching footage of the reunion shows the trio greeting each other with their trunks, with the images also showing parts of Panang’s journey home in a large converted shipping container.
Panang, 34, can be seen entering her enclosure and becoming accustomed to her new surroundings before her mum Ceyla-Himali and sister Farha, 18, who she had never seen before, are allowed into the outdoor space the following day.
The Asian elephants can be seen becoming (re-) acquainted with one another and huddling together.
Female Elephant Returns To Swiss Zoo After 28 Years And Waits To Meet Mum And Little Sister
The Zurich Zoo said in a statement: “So that the family reunification can take place undisturbed, the various steps of arrival and settling in take place behind closed doors.
“The elephant house will therefore remain closed in the meantime.”
Shortly before this touching footage filmed, Zoo director Severin Dressen had said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: “We warmly welcome the new old woman from Zurich back to her elephant family at Zurich Zoo.”
He had added: “We assume that Ceyla-Himali will recognise her daughter again even after 28 years of separation and will then convince Farha to accept Panang into her ranks from now on.”
It appears that he was correct.
The Asian elephant, listed as ‘endangered’ on the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species.
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Story By: Joseph Golder, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash
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