Scotland's only African elephant, Mondula, has died at the age of 54 following a period of ill health at Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling. Known affectionately as Mondy, the elephant was humanely put to sleep on Friday after experiencing age-related complications.
A Life Marked by Early Trauma and Later Care
Born in 1971, Mondula is believed to have been orphaned before being captured from the wild, a common practice at the time. The park described this beginning as "traumatic," presenting unique challenges for her keepers throughout her life. Mondy had resided at Blair Drummond since 1998, having been transferred from Erfurt Zoo in Germany.
Legacy of Advanced Elephant Care
The experience of caring for Mondula led Blair Drummond Safari Park to become one of Europe's leading facilities for geriatric female elephants. In 2013, the park built a cutting-edge elephant house specifically designed to cater for elderly females living outside natural family herd structures.
Head elephant keeper Suzie Marshall said: "Mondy was so beloved by everyone here and she will be much missed. Her legacy is, however, a very important one. Having spent nearly half her life with us, Mondy has allowed us to develop one of the most comprehensive elephant care plans in the country."
Solitary Living and Improved Wellbeing
After arriving at Blair Drummond, Mondula initially lived with two other female elephants named Estrella and Toto. However, her lack of exposure to stable family herd structure hampered her ability to form close bonds with other elephants.
When Estrella died in 2013 and Toto in 2016, the decision was made to house Mondy alone. The park said this "deepened" her bonds with her six full-time keepers and led to:
- Increased willingness to participate in training
- Enhanced mental stimulation
- Noticeable improvement in physical condition
Elephant expert Professor Phyllis C. Lee from the University of Stirling commented: "Her improvement in all aspects of physical appearance and behaviour was marked, with good and visible muscle development in her forelegs, and her sway-back is now completely gone."
A Lasting Impact on Conservation
Managing director Hector Muir reflected on Mondula's significance: "As well as being a hugely beloved character here at the park, Mondy also played an important part in our ongoing work to protect some of the world's most endangered species. During her years with us, she's taught us so much and we're so very proud of what we've achieved together."
The park emphasized that Mondula's care plan now stands as a benchmark for the care of remaining elephants in captivity. Her keepers showed exceptional dedication throughout her 28 years at the safari park, developing specialized approaches to address both psychological needs and physical ailments of geriatric elephants living outside natural social structures.
Mondula will be greatly missed by all staff, visitors, and members at Blair Drummond Safari Park, where she spent nearly half her life contributing to advancements in elephant welfare and conservation practices.
