Elephants at zoo locations in Sweden

6 zoo locations has kept elephants in Sweden
There is presently 12 (5,7) living elephants in zoo locations in Sweden (in this database)

Region:

Sweden is in this database included in europe

Location holdings:

6 zoo locations has kept 37 elephants in Sweden

(Database tables with collection of elephants further down on the page)

Elephants in zoo locations

12 (5,7) living

25 (5,17) dead

Sex ratio and
Management:

Male

5 / 12

42%

Female

7 / 12

58%

Free contact

4 / 12

33%

Protected contact

6 / 12

50%

No contact

0 / 12

Unknown contact

2 / 12

17%

wild

0 / 12

The first elephant ever brought to Sweden was 1804, when a 10 year old Asian bull, owned by Mr. Jean Baptiste Gautier, toured on circus 1804-1806. Mr. Gauthier was forefather to Diana Rhodin and Mr. Axel Gauthier, late elephant trainer in USA.

Another elephant was kept on a permanent menagerie in Stockholm, Stockholm Tivoli. Menageries was prohibited by the king, in 30 oktober 1916.

Elephants has been held in Zoos since 1930. (Topsy and later Lunkentuss, Skansen Zoo)

Today, only two zoological gardens and one circus keep elephants: In Kolmï¿½rden Zoo on the eastcoast, 150 km south of Stockholm, and Borï¿½s Zoo on the westcost, 100 km northeast from Gothenburg.

Elephants were previously kept at Skansen Zoo in Stockholm (4), Parken Zoo in Eskilstuna (5), and Furuviksparken, near Gï¿½vle (6), and also several circuses, the last one touring had elephants at the winterquarters in Malmoe.

The (1989) regulations from the ministry of agriculture,regarding keeping of elephants are:
Stable: Minimum 200 m2, and not less than 50 m2 per animal.Enclosure: Min. 2 000 m2, and with additional enclosure to separate individuals. Rubbing post, or similar, to enable skin care. Bathing pool, or likewise.

Recommended Citation

Koehl, Dan, Facts about elephants in Sweden. Elephant Encyclopedia, (2020) available online retrieved at https://www.elephant.se/country.php?name=Sweden.
(archived at the Wayback machine)