The oldest zoo in the world Japan, he in the Tokyo, presented to the audience the first elephant born to him since he was founded more than a century ago and invited the world to help choose the name he would give him.
The male elephant was presented to the public on Tuesday for the first time after his birth on October 31 at the Zoo Ueno Tokyo.
His mother, Authie, and his father, Artid, were given as a gift to Japan by Thailand in 2002 for the birth of the princess Aiko, the only daughter of the Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.
The Oueno Zoo, which was founded in 1882, also asked the public to vote online for the name to be given to the elephant, choosing from among the names proposed by the Thai embassy in Tokyo.
The options available are Arun, which means “dawn” in Thai, Atsantong (sunset) or Tawan (sun). The name voted on will be announced on 15 December.
The time during which the baby elephant and its mother, 22-year-old Authie, are allowed to be seen is limited to only two hours a day for the time being to avoid stressing the animals.
The baby was born weighing 120 kg and 100 cm high, but it has grown a lot since then. Sadly his father, Artie, died at the age of 23 in August from tuberculosis.
