Sandro , Asiatic elephant bull

This is not Raisa, but Sandro (bull). But otherwise, nice photo.

The only Asian elephant bull I have ever seen in my entire life. I have only visited the Sorocaba zoo once. My visit was in early 2016.

@Enzo Yes, he's an impressive beast for sure.

Yes, he is a magnificent animal indeed. He was also the first elephant bull I've seen. Elephants have been my favourite animals since I was born.

Unfortunately, his companion Raisa died this Wednesday evening at the age of 49.

@Elephantelephant Yes, heard the sad news and have sent my condolences to the head vet.

I knew Raisa pretty well and even hand fed her an apple once so it is very sad to hear both of her passing and poor old Sandro now being on his own.

I do not think the zoo should get anymore elephants though or indeed any African or Asian megafauna.

Sorocaba's strength is its native species collection and I think as the old exotic species begin to pass away from old age they should not be replaced with more but instead slowly phased out.

There are not that many of them now actually as Sandro is pretty old, the hippos are ancient, the lionness Suzy is also ancient, a single ancient blackbuck and llama, Mel the mandrill is old and diabetic, the hornbill is a dinosaur (but in the literal and figurative sense) etc.

That leaves the tigers, red deer, baboons, cassowary, ostriches, ring tailed lemurs, meerkats and several birds and reptiles which are all fairly youngish animals but the rest are all either native or South American species.