In the small space of a month, three of the Asian Elephants died. First Qiyo, then Phyo Phyo, and finally Tarzen. Phyo Phyo was the mother of both Oiyo and Tarzen and died of Kidney failure. Qiyo died the week before from EEHV aged two. After his mother's passing, Tarzen passed away at only 11 weeks old.
Very sad indeed. Planckendael went through some really rough times in late spring and early summer this year. First there were the three tragic elephant deaths, then on June 21st young Asiatic lioness Rani escaped due to keeper error. The police intervention squad who came to the scene decided to shoot and kill her after attempts to sedate her had failed, because she was coming too close to a place where people were hiding. After that event Planckendael and its staff were showered with a crap storm of criticism and vile attacks (a choir to which, to my continued dismay and regret, I sadly also added) and animal rights activists protested the park several times, accusing the park and its staff to be murderers, animal abusers, a prison - you know, the usual animal rights rhetoric. Luckily things have calmed down since and there hasn't been more very news. Visitor numbers don't seem to really be suffering either from what I've seen.
