Monday, 3 January 2011

Killer elephant: Pachyderm finds solace in new home


via CAAI

Monday, 03 January 2011 15:01 Buth Reaksmey Kongkea

Killer elephant

SAMBO, a bull elephant who rampaged through Kampong Speu province after killing his owner last month, appears to be taking a fresh approach to relationships in 2011.

Sambo has mellowed out and may get a mate after his escapades landed him at the Phnom Tamao Zoo on Christmas Day, a zoo official said yesterday.

Nhem Thy, the zoo’s deputy director, said he plans to have Sambo start living with Srey Pao, a female elephant, next week, hoping the pair will hit it off.

Sambo’s health has improved, and his temper and stress have decreased in captivity, he said.

“I am very pleased that Sambo has now become a kind and good elephant again, and his stress or temper now have been released from his mind,” Nhem Thy said.

He said Sambo’s change of heart came about “because he met with many female elephants in the zoo and he likes them”, and added that Sambo often looks at Srey Pao and the other females “in a loving way”.

He said the 50-year-old Sambo had been “lonely” and without female attention prior to his rampage last month.

Zoo director Nhek Ratanapich said if Srey Pao was too old to bear a calf, there are three other elephants who may like a suitor: Lucky, Chamroeun and Narann.

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