Yossi the Elephant Celebrates 52nd Birthday at Ramat Gan Safari as World's Largest Zoo Elephant

Yossi, the famous elephant at Ramat Gan Safari in Israel, is celebrating his 52nd birthday. Weighing around 7 tons and standing over 3.8 meters tall, Yossi holds the record as the largest elephant in any zoo worldwide. His exceptional size results from a combination of strong family genetics and his advanced age, as male elephants continue growing throughout their lives. Yossi is the first elephant born in Israel and the oldest male elephant in European zoos. He is the son of Bahti, a revered African elephant who recently passed away at age 65 after leaving behind 52 descendants that contributed significantly to European breeding programs.

Yossi’s birthday coincides with International Elephant Day, highlighting a stark contrast with wild African elephants, which are shrinking in size due to illegal poaching targeting the largest, tusked adults. This selective hunting removes mature elephants before they can reproduce, leaving younger, smaller populations in the wild. In contrast, Yossi lives in a protected environment with dedicated care from safari staff and veterinarians, allowing him to reach his full natural potential.

The safari has also improved living conditions for its elephants, including recent upgrades to the Asian elephant enclosure with red clay soil, which elephants use to protect their skin from the sun. Enrichment activities like colorful balls encourage physical activity and sensory stimulation.

Despite his celebrated life, Yossi experienced tragedy about 20 years ago when he attacked Atari, the herd’s oldest female leader, during a musth period. Despite efforts to intervene, Atari died from the attack, deeply affecting the caretakers. Since then, Yossi has been separated from other elephants to prevent recurrence and ensure safety.

Yossi’s story exemplifies both the challenges elephants face in the wild and the benefits of conservation and care in captivity.