Rhinoceros female Elena dies when introduced to new male on Wildlands savannah.
The new rhino male Limpopo arrived in the park at the beginning of this month and during the past week he was already successfully introduced to the more than 2 hectare large savannah and the various animal species, such as zebras, wildebeests and giraffes. There were no problems at all and the introduction went beyond expectations.
Today the most exciting introduction was planned. That of Limpopo with the two rhino ladies (and sisters) Elena and Zahra, with whom he would be allowed to breed in the future. The three have already been able to smell and see each other behind the scenes, each in their own part of the stable. The first meeting on the savannah started extra early this morning and before the opening of the park. Around 7.45 a.m. both ladies first entered the savannah, after which Limpopo was allowed to enter the area as well. From that moment on, things got restless: both females were startled by the man and instead of showing him his place, they both ran away. As a result, Limpopo went in pursuit. He seemed particularly focused on Elena, because she was closest to him. After about fifteen minutes both animals seemed exhausted. Elena walked towards a shallow pool of water and, probably due to her fatigue, slipped. She landed on her side in the water and could hardly get up. Limpopo remained standing near her, the animal caretakers immediately lured him away from her. Unfortunately, help for Elena came too late and she had already drowned.
.