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“Edgar” the Baby Elephant

January 19, 2016

Almost 4,000 name suggestions were put forward for the youngest resident in Berlin’s elephant house, but a winner was decided on Monday. The Asian elephant calf now goes by the name Edgar.

https://p.dw.com/p/1Hg64
Pressebilder Tierpark Berlin Taufe Elefantenbulle
Image: Zoo Berlin

His name was a collaborative effort by Berlin’s Tierpark, their sponsors - a children’s radio station in Berlin - and the zoo’s care workers. “Edgar is definitely a great choice for our New Year baby,” praises Tierpark director Andreas Knieriem. At the grand unveiling of his name on Monday, the elephants were given special cake with fruit, and the new arrival received his own name board.

In his short life, tough little Edgar has already been the source of two big surprises. Not only with his premature birth, but his gender too - the carers were all convinced he was a girl.

Asian elephants rank among the most highly endangered species. These strong, majestic animals are now rarely spotted in the wild, but commonly used as pets or working animals in South-East Asia. Berlin’s Tierpark is currently home to seven Asian and six African elephants.

fm, nr / ks (rbb, Tierpark Berlin)