Dutch zoo offers 'free
elephants' after jumbo fight
The drama at the Noorder Animal Park in the northeastern town of
Emmen unfolded after the herd's undisputed matriarch died in June
leading to a massive power struggle, zoo biologist Webren Landman
said.
"They started pushing each other. They trumpeted loudly and
flapped their ears. The situation became unbearable," Landman told
AFP.
Park rangers decided to separate the two fighting factions of
the 12-strong Asian elephant herd, but this meant the beasts were
spending too much time indoors.
"We need a quick solution to the problem," their keeper Krista
Nijstad told the daily Algemeen Dagblad.
The park is now looking for other zoos to take on four of the
elephants -- on offer for free -- while the other eight will
remain.
