Vantara opens doors to 3 elephants from Tunisia for a fresh start

With limited resources to provide for the elephants’ needs, a private Tunisian zoo sought Vantara's assistance in offering them a nurturing home.

Three African forest elephants—two females and one male, aged between 28 and 29—will soon start a new chapter at Vantara, a wildlife rescue center based in Jamnagar, India.

Founded by Anant Mukesh Ambani, Vantara received a request from a private zoo in Tunisia struggling with the financial demands of the elephants' dietary, housing, and medical care. Originally from Burkina Faso, Achtaum, Kani, and Mina were transferred to Tunisia’s Friguia Park at just four-years-old, where they have spent nearly 23 years on public display. The necessary regulatory and legal requirements, including those of the CITES, have been completed to facilitate their journey to India via a chartered cargo plane.

Elephants being brought to India via a chartered cargo plane.

Though they were a major draw at Friguia Park, financial limitations began to strain the zoo, leading to the decision to retire three African forest elephants to reduce expenses. Recognizing that, after years of captivity and close dependence on human support, returning them to the wild was neither practical nor suitable, the zoo sought a facility to offer the elephants a serene and fulfilling retirement with specialized health care and compassionate treatment. Vantara ultimately emerged as the perfect destination for this purpose.

According to a recent health check by Vantara's veterinary specialists, the elephants face a range of health challenges. Unaddressed skin conditions have led to hair loss and matting, pointing to a need for regular medical oversight. Achtaum is dealing with a split tusk and an infected molar that will require meticulous medical and surgical care, while Kani has developed nail cracks, likely from prolonged exposure to hard surfaces. Currently, the elephants are kept in a concrete shelter with poor ventilation and a bare paddock, lacking enrichment vital for their well-being. Their diet has mostly been dry hay, with limited access to fresh water.

While African forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) are originally from the dense forests of Central and West Africa, wild populations are not present in Tunisia. In their natural habitat, these elephants thrive across extensive forested areas, with access to diverse plants for foraging and mud wallows that aid their skin care. Vantara has recreated these features in its large, enriched enclosures, including native plants, mud pools, and specialized food enrichment that promotes natural foraging. Their new home at Vantara will offer Achtaum, Kani, and Mina an environment close to the wild, with care designed to nurture their physical, emotional, and social needs, allowing them a life of compassion.