I think that the elephant pictured is “Malayka” who was born in 1971 and arrived in Basle Zoo in 1984 from Circus Knie. However, Basle is not one of the European zoos that I know well; I’ve only visited about five times and the occasion I took this photograph was my first visit for many years. Hopefully somebody who knows Basle Zoo better that I do will be able to either confirm or correct this identification.
This is the African cow Malayka, though her tusks look forest-like, she is of the bush species. She has all the physical features of Loxodonta africana in terms of head and body shape.
Looks like a very fine speciemen. As she is 40 years old, she's probably to old to breed which in my mind is a shame she looks a very nice breeding animal. EDIT: Just found out that she had a still born calf in 1992 that was the only calf she ever had.
