Death of an elephant in the Zlín zoo: The male attacked her unexpectedly

The attack happened on Friday, with the zoo saying at the time that Jack attacked Ula “for an unexplained reason”. The team of zoologists and breeders went through the available camera records in detail, but according to the zoo management, they did not discover any signs of behavior that would foreshadow an attack.

Ulu could not be saved after the attack, despite the immediate reaction of the breeding team and the veterinary specialists present. The autopsy showed that the cause of immediate death was extensive chest injuries and subsequent injuries to internal organs.

Immediately after the event, breeders separated the male elephant from the rest of the herd. According to the zoo, thanks to long-term training, it was possible to transfer Jack to indoor housing without the need for any immobilization.

The other females with the calf reacted to the situation by moving to the part of the enclosure with the lake, where the breeders began to devote themselves fully to them.

Another team of employees closed the Karibuni area after the incident to ensure a peaceful environment for the animals. “The male will remain separated, he will have an indoor space and a separate outdoor enclosure at his disposal. Since we and the veterinarians evaluated the behavior of the elephants and the baby elephants as appropriate, that they accept food, drink and move around the entire two-hectare enclosure, we opened the Karibuni area to visitors again from Monday,” said zoo spokeswoman Romana Mikešová.

The management of the garden will continue to solve the whole situation with the African elephant breeding coordinator.

Zoologists, breeders and veterinarians continue to analyze the situation in the background and intensively monitor the social behavior of the remaining females and calves. According to the veterinary evaluation, their behavior is adequate, the animals normally drink, eat and move around the entire two-hectare enclosure.

The Zlín Zoo acquired male Jack from the Hungarian Sostó Zoo in 2023 based on the decision of the breeding coordinator, who manages the transfer of animals in human care. A year earlier, Zlín Zoo completed a modern facility in the Karibuni area, which met above-standard conditions for breeding females and males. The goal of supplementing the existing herd with an elephant bull was an attempt at natural reproduction, which experts consider to be the most suitable method of breeding.

The male adapted without problems after his arrival, stayed with the females in common areas and repeatedly mated with them, while the last recorded mating took place with the dead female Ulu.

Zlín Zoo started breeding African elephants in May 2003 with three females. With the help of the Dutch specialist Cona Mul, the breeders prepared the elephants for artificial insemination, thanks to which the female Kali gave birth to the first ever baby African elephant in the Czech Republic in June 2021.

As part of the Karibuni project, the zoo built one of the largest and most modern facilities for elephant breeding in Europe on an area exceeding three hectares. The development of the situation and further breeding steps will be subject to strict breeding standards and professional recommendations.