I think it is the young bull Donaldson in the lead . I was also present to see this parade . There were some visitors involved in Elephant breeding at Whipsnade - one of whom is in the photo . ( We wondered if they were models on a photo shoot but were put right ! )Earlier the visitors were inter-acting with the herd ( all apart from Emmett and one female who was with him ) in the paddock . Donaldson was being kept away by the keepers and was getting rather annoyed about this , but gave way to his keepers every time he tried to joined the rest of the herd .
Donaldson died in 2009. The one leading the walk is Euan, Donaldson`s older brother, born in 2004.
It is highly irresponsible to walk a young bull of this age through the zoo while visitors are there, that is another terrible accident waiting to happen (after elephant keepers were seriously injured by young bulls of similar age in Dresden/Germany and Toledo/USA just recently). And Euan`s mom Aziza injured a keeper during one of these walks in spring. I guess she has still not yet been retired from the walks, though?
Sorry I got my young bulls mixed up . Euan was getting seriously stroppy in the paddock but backed off from the keepers , do wonder how much longer it will be before he really challenges them .
