The largest herd of elephants in Poland lives in the Łódź ZOO Orientarium! Barnaba is already enjoying his enclosure.

Our Łódź herd has grown and now can boast four elephants. Alexander, Taru, Kyan and, last but not least, Barnaba live in the Łódź ZOO Orientarium.

Barnaba’s arrival means that Łódź has now the largest elephant herd in Poland! “The enclosure in the Łódź ZOO Orientarium is the largest enclosure for Indian elephants in Europe” – says Tomasz Jóźwik, a Member of the Management Board of the Łódź ZOO Orientarium – “and there is so much space inside and outside that the elephants will certainly have plenty of room.” The whole herd of elephants will get to know each other slowly.

First the smell.

This is the first thing the elephants perceived when the new resident arrived at the Orientarium. In order to help Barnaba get used to the new place, we left the droppings of the other members of the herd in the arena,” says Adam Trochim, the elephant keeper, “so that the animal has a chance to realise that someone is already here, to get to know their smell, to become accustomed to it. So far, however, the pool has been the most important! The elephant immediately moved towards the water. First, he cautiously explored the bottom, then he sat down gently, dived in, and then he just let himself enjoy the water with nothing holding him back!

Barnaba, Kyan, Taru and Alexander

The elephant enclosure’s newest resident is 12 years old. He is quite slender, tall, dynamic and impulsive. So far, he has been getting used to his new keepers, but he is already starting to exercise. He explores the enclosure and soon it will be time to introduce him to the other males in the herd.