The world’s first male elephant to be born by artificial insemination is packing his trunk – to find a female mate.
Sutton made history when he was born at West Midland Safari Park in May 2014. He was named after campaigner Stephen Sutton, 19, who raised £5.5 million for Teenage Cancer Trust before he died the same month.
Today (Tue) nine-year-old Sutton moved 80 miles to Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm in Wraxall. It is hoped Sutton, who will live at the 20 acre site, will be encouraged to breed with female elephant Five.
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Head Keeper of Elephants at the Safari Park, Andy Plumb, said, “It is a bittersweet time for me and the elephant team to see Sutton leave us. He has been here at the Park since his birth in 2014 and we have built a strong bond with him, but it is time for him to continue his journey.
“Unfortunately, African elephants face an uncertain future, with the wild population declining, meaning they are listed as ‘endangered’. Sutton’s move to Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm will enable him to continue his development and hopefully go on to become a successful breeding bull at another collection in the future, further supporting and protecting the survival of elephants into the future.”
Sutton was born on May 5, 2014 and was both the first baby elephant birthed at the park, and the first male in the world to be born by artificial insemination, using semen from a wild bull. It means his genetics provide a key supporting role in serving wider conservation efforts as part of the EEP (EAZA Ex-situ Programme) for African elephants.
Sutton will join two bull African elephants, Shaka and Janu, at his new home. African Elephants are listed as ‘endangered’ by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature), with the wild population declining due to poaching for their ivory and loss of habitat.
Last month, planning permission for almost 200 homes on the former Bristol Zoo site in Clifton was given the go ahead. Bristol City Council’s development control A committee granted permission for 196 homes on the former Bristol Zoo Gardens site on Wednesday, April 26. Their decision was welcomed by the mayor but criticised by many who oppose the new development.
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