In a charming moment captured at a Thai elephant sanctuary, a young elephant enthusiastically approached a visitor for a cuddle, offering a playful interaction that delighted everyone watching The video shows a woman seated on the muddy ground when, unexpectedly, a baby elephant bounds over, eager to make her acquaintance. The audience can’t help but laugh as the calf cozily settles on her lap. A bystander comments that the woman seems to be enjoying the unusual encounter. However, the calf’s boundless energy keeps it moving around, occasionally shifting in ways that look a little uncomfortable for the woman. She smiles and strokes the baby elephant as it readjusts onto her thighs, embracing the affectionate moment. But when the calf rolls backward onto her shins, she lets out a soft “ow,” prompting a nearby person to step in and lend a hand. Unperturbed, the little elephant soon rolls f...
Asian elephants Spike and Maharani have been joyfully reunited at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC, after spending nearly four years apart.
The pair first met at the Calgary Zoo in Alberta, Canada, where they lived together for several years. However, their paths diverged when they were sent to different facilities—Spike to Florida and Maharani to Washington, DC.
Spike’s journey to Calgary came after Hurricane Andrew struck Florida in August 1992, damaging Zoo Miami’s elephant habitat. He was relocated to the Calgary Zoo, where he shared a home with Kamala, Swarna, and Maharani.
In 2013, Spike returned to Florida, this time to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, while Maharani and her mother Kamala and “aunt” Swarna made their way to the National Zoo in Washington, DC.
Last month, 36-year-old Spike made his public debut at the National Zoo, settling into his new surroundings at the Elephant Community Center. Soon after, he reunited with Maharani, rekindling their bond in an emotional reunion.
According to Kayleigh Sullivan, an elephant keeper at the National Zoo, the connection between Spike and Maharani was instantaneous.
“It was as if no time had passed,” Sullivan shared with the Calgary Herald. “When Rani saw him, her ears were flapping wildly, what I call ‘happy, flappy ears.’
They walked right up to each other without hesitation.” Photos from the zoo show the pair strolling together and enjoying a side-by-side bath.
During their time at the Calgary Zoo, Maharani became pregnant by Spike three times, but heartbreakingly, none of the calves survived. She gave birth to two live calves in 2004 and 2007, both of which died in infancy.
In 2012, she delivered a stillborn calf. Despite these tragic losses, the National Zoo remains hopeful for a brighter future.
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The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan (SSP), which helps maintain a genetically diverse elephant population in North America, has recommended that Spike and Maharani breed again.
Spike is considered genetically valuable because his genes are underrepresented among North American Asian elephants.
Zoo officials are optimistic that the pair may be able to breed successfully. They plan to use blood tests and ultrasounds to monitor Maharani for pregnancy, though one telltale sign may be if Spike starts losing interest in her, which often indicates that mating has occurred.
Should Maharani conceive, fans must wait patiently—an elephant’s gestation lasts around 22 months.
Spike, who weighs 13,000 pounds, was born at Zoo Miami on July 2, 1981, and is currently on loan from his birthplace.
He now shares his new home at the National Zoo’s Elephant Trails exhibit with other residents: 70-year-old Ambika, 43-year-old Shanthi, and Bozie, also 43.
For those eager to follow Spike and Maharani’s journey, the National Zoo offers an Elephant Cam, providing daily glimpses into their lives.
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