Asian elephant (Elephas maximus)
Female, born 1964/1966 (*) in Bangkok (Thailand), died March 1, 2009 in Emmen.
Arrived in Emmen on May 20, 1966.
Annabel probably was destined for a life in a circus because she already knew some acts when she came to Emmen. She even could play a harmonica! For the first few years she performed in the zoo and once she appeared on the Dutch television. In 1972, the zoo management decided to discontinue the acts. Annabal had to live a more elephantlike life.
For the first years she lived alone; her predecessor Barbara moved to Amsterdam just before Annabel came to the zoo. In 1972, the management made a big mistake: An African elephant was bought to keep Annabel company. Suzan, as she was named, had not grown among her own species and had become aggressive. Poor Annabel had to undergo several attacks and was badly injured. Which leaves two large scars on both sides of her body. Of course, Suzan was moved elsewhere and Annabel was once again alone.
In 1980 the zoo found a young Asian female, Hella. She was bought from a Swedish circus. Annabel and Hella became best friends. Seven years later the zoo of Wassenaar closed his gates and the only female elephant, Zitta, was transported to Emmen. The three friends were happy together but still lived in an old enclosure. Therefore the zoo decided to build a new, large elephant enclosure with room for 15 elephants.
(*) Annabel was nearly 1 meter of height when she came to Emmen. With the experience of all the baby elephants in the zoo, the staff now thinks Annabel was not older then 6 months when she arrives.
DO NOT FEED
In the early days, Annabel was allowed to take a walk trough the zoo. To prevent that the public gave her food, the words DO NOT FEED (In Dutch: NIET VOEREN) were painted on her sides.
Annabel (circa 1980)
June 26, 1988 was a great day for Annabel and her friends: six young Asian elephants arrived at the zoo. Together with the new arrivals, the three older ladies entered the new elephant enclosure. Annabel, Zitta and Hella were more interested in the new exhibit then to the new herd. So much space: they never saw anything like that.
Because one of the newcomers caused some problems, she was sent to London Zoo, and in October two new girls came to Emmen. Yu Zin was one of them, she became the best friend of Annabel. The herd now consists of one bull and nine females.
Annabel and Naing Thein never were good friends. A struggle for leadership began and friendly Annabel disliked the bull more and more. When Naing Thein matured and became stronger, it was not longer acceptable for him to stay in the herd. A separate house was build for him. Finally Annabel was liberated from this nasty bull.
The two other older ladies, Hella and Zitta, were not feeling comfortable among the young ones, and a new home in the zoo of Budapest was found. Annabel, however, loved all those young elephants and after Naing Thein left the herd to live in his own enclosure, she was very happy. All the other girls visited the bull for mating, from time to time. Annabel, of course, did not.
In 2003 Naing Thein had to leave the zoo. He had done his job perfectly, but it was time for fresh blood. On October 14, 2003 a huge elephant (or was it a mammoth?) stepped out of the crate in which he was transported to the zoo. Radza entered the elephant house and introduced himself to the herd as a very friendly bull. Because he didn't want to go into the bulls enclosure he stayed with the herd. He was also friendly to Annabel and allowed her the leadership.
March 1, 2009 was a very sad day. Some of the young bulls were playing and kicked off Annabel from the enclosure into the dry moat. Altough the caregivers managed her into a more comfortable position she was not able to stand up. Even after she was lifted up with a crane and put on the soft sand of the outside enclosure she still lied down. The veterinarian only could euthanize Annabel to end her suffering
