You’ve heard of Wife Swap…but what about elephant swap?
A jumbo operation has seen a huge male elephant in Kent swapped with two cheeky youngsters in Bristol to balance out the herds.
Shaka, the dominant bull at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm in Bristol, has now joined the herd at Howletts Wild Animal Park in Kent.
Meanwhile, Impi and Mchumba, two young bulls from Howletts, have made the 200–mile journey over to Bristol.
While this might sound like an elaborate operation, experts say the move actually reflects the natural rhythms of elephant society.
Richard Barnes, Collections Manager at Howletts Wild Animal Park, explained: ‘Young males leaving the herd is a normal stage in their development.
‘We will miss Impi and Mchumba, they have become firm favourites among our keepers, known for their playful and cheeky personalities, but this move will enable the bulls to continue growing in a social environment suited to them, while also strengthening the herd at Howletts.
‘Shaka, our new dominant bull, will bring important benefits; he will help maintain social stability, keep the herd balanced, and support the overall health and wellbeing of all the elephants.’
Shaka, the dominant bull at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm in Bristol, has now joined the herd at Howletts Wild Animal Park in Kent
Impi and Mchumba, two young bulls from Howletts, have made the journey over to Bristol
Shaka is described as a ‘striking and impressively large’ bull, with a confident personality.
Having joined Howletts on 12 May, the elephant will now play an important role in regulating interactions and strengthening the social dynamics of the herd.
Impi and Mchumba are slightly younger – both age 15 – which means they have now reached maturity.
In the wild, elephants would naturally leave their birth group at this age, before establishing themselves independently or among other males.
This is a crucial change, which helps to prevent competition within the family group and allows the herd – typically led by older females – to maintain a stable social structure.
Noah’s Ark is home to the UK’s only dedicated bachelor group for African elephants, and is the ‘ideal place’ for Impi and Mchumba to find their feet, according to Tom Lindley, Lead Elephant Keeper at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm.
‘Impi and Mchumba are full of character and we’re really excited to have them join the group,’ he explained.
‘This is a big moment for them – moving away from their family group and into a bachelor group reflects exactly what we would expect to see in the wild.
Both organisations worked closely together to plan the transfers, which saw the elephants moved using specialist transport and cranes
Impi and Mchumba are slightly younger – both age 15 – which means they have now reached maturity
‘Our oldest bull Janu will help guide them as they settle in.
‘These groups are constantly evolving, and it’s incredible to watch the younger elephants learn and grow over time.’
So, how do you transport a two–tonne elephant 200 miles across the country?
Both organisations worked closely together to plan the transfers, which saw the elephants moved using specialist transport and cranes.
As Shaka settles in in Kent, The Howletts Wild Animal Trust is continuing to explore overseas rewilding opportunities.
In the meantime, the zoo has started work on creating a new elephant house for the herd.
