Asian elephant (Elephas maximus)
Male, born May 2, 1993 in Rockton
Arrived in Artis September 25, 2003.
Nikolai is the intended successor of Murugan altough everyone is hoping for a more productive elephant: Murugan has no descendants.
Nikolai is a very friendly bull and he loves Win Thida and Thong Tai but since Yindee came into his life he's delighted with this newcomer. He turned into a very good babysitter. While the two ladies are having a private chat, Nikolai is running after the baby and playing with her.
Nikolai loves all the girls in "his" herd and since Yindee is far too young and Thong Tai is not ready to receive him, he's playing a lot with Win Thida including mating her.
Photo: 09-10-2005 (copyright Gerald Postma)