A rural retirement home
Did you know that an elephant can live to between 60 and 80 years old? Elephant Haven aims to offer them a place to retire and rehabilitate after their time spent in zoos and circuses in Europe.
As an increasing number of countries are looking to ban wild animals from circuses, it’s not always possible to send them back to their place of origin. But creating a safe and peaceful retreat, in more than 28 hectares of French countryside, with varied vegetation and landscapes, shelter and medical care if required, is possible…
Where do elephants sleep?
Inside the elephant barn, the sand floor is vital and must be easy to maintain. That’s where the Hitachi ZX38U-5 can help. It will be used to rotate the 210m3 of sand each week and also make piles on which the older elephants can sleep (so they can get up more easily).
The choice of sand is also important – ideally with a grain size of 0.5 and 0.75mm, it must not clump together or generate too much dust. It has to be watered daily for 15-20 minutes and drainage is very important.
Location, location
The Elephant Haven site in southwest France currently consists of more than 28 hectares. The landscape offers a variety of vegetation including edible trees including oak, birch and chestnut, and grassy fields.
Hills are good for the more active elephants, while the flat ground is better for those less mobile. They will be free to roam and forage, shelter in the forests, and relax in the mud pools that have been created by the ZX38U-5.
How much space?
Each elephant will have at least two hectares, but all the land can be connected so that they can live in a large habitat as a group or sub-group.
The entire 28-hectare area will be divided in two: an African side and an Asian side.
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