The elephanthouse of Dierenpark Emmen

The present elephanthouse was build in 1988. It is a part of the Asiahouse, and is build underground. It exists of a keepersroom, the elephantsroom and a corridor to the courtyard. Via this courtyard, the elephants can walk to the outside enclosure. Halfway, the path crosses a bridge, which has to be opened.

The elephantsroom is 35 meters long, 15 meters wide and 5.5 meters high. Enough space for the present herd. With hydraulic fences, the area can be split in several compartments. This makes it possible to separate one or more animals from the rest.

       Click on this symbol, in the drawings, for more info.

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Keepersroom

Elephantsroom

Corridor and courtyard

The keepers can supply food to  the elephants from here, and give them water.

Water. There are no means for the elephants to get water in their room. Therefore the keepers are giving them just before the night and in the morning, some water in a watertank on wheels. On the photo you can see this tank under the supplytank.

On the left, you can see a part of the elevator.

Some tools for cleaning are hanging on the wall.

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Food. Every night, before the elephants come in, the keepers are putting some grass/hay, fruit and vegetables on the floor.

On the left, you can see a monitor to watch the animals. On the right is a cleaning machine, for cleaning the floor.

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In this large room, the elephants stay during the night. When the herd is going inside, at the end of the day, they find fresh food. Every day, after cleaning the room, the keepers are puting fresh hay, fruit and vegetables on the floor. Because this food contains a lot of liquid, the elephants can stay the night without water. The first thing the keepers will do in the morning, is bringing in fresh water.

With the hydraulic fences, the room can be split up in several compartments. On the drawings you can see that a lot of combinations is possible. This building is designed for female elephants and young bulls. Not for such a large bull as Radza. When he walks through the room, he has to bend a little, otherwise he will hit the fences with his back! The bull has his own bulls house, but Radza refused to enter it. So, the keepers let him stay amongst the others, without any troubles so far. He only can lift the fences with his tusks, against the hydraulic pressure!

The floor is made of mastic asphalt. This absorbs the feaces of the elephants, which is better for their feet. The floor however needs to be replaced. This oparations means that the elephants must stay one night outside. I don't think they dislike it, as far as the weather will be good.

In the elephantsroom, the corridor and the courtyard, you can see some safety walls. These walls were used in the past, when the keepers are walking amongst the elephants. Today, Emmen uses the protected contact system, and therefore the keepers stay away from the animals.

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Room, 2. A view of the mid-section.  The board under the fence on top, is to prevent Radza to lift it, when the fence is pulled down.

Notice all the fresh grass and fruit.

On the background is the window, where visitors can look into the elephantsroom. In between you can see the camera. In the left corner is the entrance to the corridor.

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Compartments. Two not movable fences and a lot of movables fences, makes it possible to split up the elephantsroom is many different compartments.

Notice all the fresh grass and fruit. On top of the fence  a keeper put sone pineapples.

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Copyright Gerald Postma

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The corridor has a sloping floor. The elephantsroom is build underground. From the courtyard, the elephants can walk further to the outside enclosure. it is also possible to put a crate into the courtyard, when it is necessary to move an elephant, or to bring one in.

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The courtyard. On the left is the path to the outside enclosure. Notice the many safety walls.

If an elephant has to move, a crate is put into the courtyard with a crane. The crate has to lift over the top of the trees. When Radza arrived the keepers used the crane to find out the weight of the bull. The cranedriver noted the weight of the crate with and without Radza. The difference is the weight of the giant: 7200 kilograms!

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Path to the outside enclosure. Twice a day the elephants walks through this path to the outside enclosure and vice versa. The path is sloping, because the courtyard is situated on a lower level then the outside exhibit. Notice the bridge, which has to be opened.

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