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Elephant mom Rani and daughter Savani: new phase of life in Munich!
The elephants Rani and Savani from Leipzig Zoo have moved to Munich to live in a new herd.
Elephant mom Rani and daughter Savani: new phase of life in Munich!
Rani and her daughter Savani, two Asian elephants, have started a new phase of life at Hellabrunn Zoo in Munich. Their move, which took place on May 20, 2025 with a special transporter, came on the recommendation of the European Endangered Species Program (EEP). The aim of this move is to establish her own matriline in Munich, as Rani had problems integrating into the existing herd in her old home at Leipzig Zoo. Tensions with other elephants, particularly the lead cow Kewa, meant that Rani and Savani were often separated from the herd. The social needs of the two animals were not optimally met in the long term, which made the decision to move necessary, according to Leipzig Zoo [thueringen24.de].
The transport to Munich was entirely positive. Rani and Savani were able to explore their new home in peace, and trusted carers accompanied them during their move. The Munich keepers emphasize that the two elephants will be gradually accustomed to their new surroundings in order to keep stress as low as possible. Careful acclimatization is the top priority, as zoo director Rasem Baban explains [zoo-leipzig.de].
A new home in the Hellabrunn elephant group
In Hellabrunn, Rani and Savani already have new step-siblings in the elephant group, which also includes the bull Gajendra and the elephants Otto, Temi and Mangala. The Munich carers are optimistic that Rani, who is only 15 years old, will have a happy time in her new home. Gajendra is already showing interest in Rani, which raises hopes that she could soon have new kittens. The keepers and zoo management express the wish that Rani will even become a grandma in the future when her daughter Savani is older [sueddeutsche.de].
The situation in Leipzig has therefore changed for the better for everyone involved. Rani now has the opportunity to look after her two daughters, which is common in elephant herds as all the cows look after the young animals together. In the MDR documentary soap “Elefant, Tiger & Co” the settling in of Rani and Savani is documented, and the latest episode shows bull Otto carefully approaching the two females [thueringen24.de].
- Ankunft: 20. Mai 2025 im Tierpark Hellabrunn
- Alter von Rani: 15 Jahre
- Alter von Savani: 2 Jahre
- Herdengröße in Hellabrunn: Otto, Temi, Mangala, Gajendra
The people of Munich are ready and looking forward to welcoming Rani and Savani into their elephant community. New episodes of “Elefant, Tiger & Co” are broadcast every Friday at 7:50 p.m. on MDR and in the ARD media library, where viewers can follow the exciting development of this mother-daughter duo [zoo-leipzig.de].