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Gaziantep Wildlife Park, one of the world’s largest wildlife parks in terms of area and species diversity, marked World Elephant Day with a special celebration for one of its most extraordinary residents—Gabi, the world’s first elephant born via in vitro fertilization.
Now 18 years old, the endangered Asian elephant has been living at the park since the age of 5. Known for her size and charm, Gabi was treated to a menu filled with her favourite foods, including bananas, tomatoes, pineapples, various types of squash, and red peppers. Visitors gathered to watch her enjoy the feast.
According to Celal Ozsoyler, head of the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality’s Department of Wildlife Protection, the park’s animals receive meticulous care.
“We are celebrating World Elephant Day of Gabi, the world’s first test-tube Asian elephant. We prepared a special menu for her. She is very happy, and so are we,” he said. Ozsoyler also noted that only around 35,000 to 40,000 Asian elephants remain in the wild, making their protection vital. Efforts are underway to find a mate for Gabi, with the zoo in contact with wildlife parks abroad.
World Elephant Day, observed annually on Aug. 12 since 2012, was established to draw attention to the declining population of elephants, which are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
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