Nurses, now relieved, hear redemptive update following emotional departures, described as "madness"
Rani and her daughter Savani, a mother-daughter elephant duo, have found a new home at Tierpark Hellabrunn in Munich. The move from Leipzig Zoo was a challenging decision for the Leipzig Zoo team, but it was necessary due to the increasing ostracization of Rani and Savani from their herd in Leipzig [1].
In their new home, Savani plays a vital role in the social dynamics, acting as a bridge between her mother Rani and the other elephants, Temi and Mangala. This facilitates group integration and helps reorganize the elephant social structure at the zoo [2]. The new additions to the herd have brought optimism and hope for the future, with the Munich keeper, Daniel, expressing optimism about Rani's future life's work, which involves having many more children [3].
The MDR documentary series "Elephant, Tiger & Co" follows the story of Rani and Savani as they settle into their new life in Munich. Viewers were able to observe the duo being accepted into their new herd and exploring their new outdoor enclosure together in episode 1131 [4]. The first airing of this episode was on June 6, and new episodes air every Friday at 7:50 PM on MDR [5].
Rani now has two new calves to care for in Munich [6]. The dominant bull, Otto, has shown interest in Rani, while the bull Gajendra has expressed similar sentiments towards the elephant matriarch [7]. The Munich keeper, Daniel, has expressed "incredible" comments regarding the smooth integration of Rani and Savani into their new herd [8].
In addition to their new enclosure, Savani also has new step-siblings in Munich [9]. The elephants in a herd, including cows, generally care for the young, and this seems to be the case in Munich as well [10]. The move of Rani and Savani from Leipzig Zoo to Tierpark Hellabrunn in Munich has been a positive step for the duo, with Rani leaving behind her sad days of isolation from a herd at Leipzig Zoo [11].
The mother-daughter duo, Rani and Savani, are reportedly thriving in their new home in Munich. If Savani is ready, the Munich herd could grow with more additions [12]. The Munich keeper, Daniel, even expresses hope that Rani may become a grandmother in Munich [3]. The new episodes of "Elephant, Tiger & Co" are available in the ARD-Mediathek for those interested in following Rani and Savani's journey [13].
Rani and Savani have adapted their lifestyle to a home-and-garden setting at Tierpark Hellabrunn, Munich, which includes cross-species interactions with their pet elephants. Their new home has added new calves to Rani's care, creating a multi-generational pet elephant family.
