World Elephant Day

Happy World Elephant Day from all of us at West Midlands Safari Park! Today, we're shining a spotlight on our incredible herd of elephants, Coco, Five, Suzy and Gitana!

To mark the occasion—and to help our elephants beat the heat during the recent heatwave—our dedicated Keepers came up with a fun and refreshing surprise for our bull elephant, Coco. They prepared some giant ice blocks filled with his favourite treats!

At first, Coco was a little hesitant. The ice blocks were new to him, and he wasn’t quite sure what to make of them. But as soon as he realised there were delicious goodies hidden inside, his curiosity got the better of him. With a bit of bravery, Coco approached the ice blocks, and it wasn’t long before he was enjoying his frosty treats! 

World Elephant Day is also a day to raise awareness about the plight of elephants in the wild. African elephants face an uncertain future, with wild populations declining due to poaching and loss of habitat, therefore they are listed as ‘endangered’ by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. We are partnered with and annually donate to the charity Tusk, which supports on the ground conservation through the Mali Elephant Project, which protects a unique population of 550 sub-desert elephants. Protecting their natural habitats and promoting coexistence between humans and wildlife is crucial to ensuring the survival of these iconic animals.

If you want to witness Coco’s charming antics and meet the rest of our elephant family—Five, Suzy, and Gitana—come and visit us this summer!

Special thanks to Keeper Adam for capturing the moment with Coco!