ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Saint Louis Zoo’s bull elephant, Raja, will “stomp open” presents for his 26th birthday on Thursday, December 27th.
Visitors are invited to come to River’s Edge in the Zoo at 11:00 am to sing “Happy Birthday” and cheer for Raja, weather permitting. Birthday cupcakes and hot chocolate will be available for purchase.
According to a release, Raja was the first Asain elephant born at the Zoo on December 27, 1992. He is the father of three female calves, Maliha, Jade and Priya. The Zoo’s three-generation Asian elephant family is “thriving under the excellent care” provided by a trained professional animal care team.
“We’re very excited to celebrate Raja’s birthday,” Martha Fischer, curator of mammals/ungulates at Saint Louis Zoo said. “It seems like it was just yesterday when Raja was born and from that day forward he’s been beloved by so many.”
Zookeepers and volunteers have constructed birthday presents filled with some of Raja’s favorite things including cereal, peanuts, bananas and popcorn.
From 10:30 am to 11:00 am, zookeepers will provide keeper chats and animal training demonstrations at the elephant habitats, weather permitting.
Visitors will also be able to sign a “super-sized” birthday card and learn more about the elephants and elephant conversation through keeper chats, activities and biofacts until 1:00 pm at Lakeside Cafe.
For more information about Raja’s 26th birthday celebration, visit stlzoo.org/raja.