Stockholm Zoo (Skansen) in Sweden

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Stockholm Zoo (Skansen)
Nika to the left, and Bambina to the right. Bambina was, with almost six tons, probably among the largest Asian female elephants in Europe. At the gate is Skansens first elephant keeper, Sven Borg, who was responsible for the elephants 1930-1975. Photo: 1962 by Göran Schmidt
Nika to the left, and Bambina to the right. Bambina was, with almost six tons, probably among the largest Asian female elephants in Europe. At the gate is Skansens first elephant keeper, Sven Borg, who was responsible for the elephants 1930-1975. Photo: 1962 by Göran Schmidt
Local name Skansens zoologiska avdelning
Typezoo
Founded1891
First elephant arrived1930
Last elephant left1992
Address Box 27807
Zip-code S-115 93
Place Stockholm
Country Sweden
Website Website
Related persons
OwnerStiftelsen Skansen
Manager 1983-1986: Ingvar Nylund
1970-1983: Tore Glemmefors
Zoological department
Directors 1996-2003: Bengt Rosén
(zoologist)
Head Zookeeper 1994-2016: Erland Wadsten
1983-1995: Leif Wicksell
Zookeeper 1989-1994: Erland Wadsten
1935-1945: Catharina Florman
Apprentice keeper 1988-1992: Ian Koehl
1976-1983: Dan Koehl
1975-1990: Chandana Perera
1970-1975: Sven Mellgren
1970-1974: Mikael Eriksson
1968: Michael Waxmann
1945-1955: Sven-Arne Borg
1930-1935: Catharina Florman
Elephant department
Head keepers
of elephants
1986-1992: Dan Koehl
1984-1986: Bill Hemberg
1983-1984: Tommy Lambrell
1976-1983: Ingvar Nylund
1932-1975: Sven Borg
Elephant keepers
1990-1991: Pelle Zettersten
1989-1990: Bo Larsson
1989-1990: Jari Lönn
1988-1990: Jörgen Andersson
1983-1986: Dan Koehl
1976-1984: Bill Hemberg
1973-1983: Leif Wicksell
1961-1981: Mats Berg
1961-1976: Ingvar Nylund
1958-1959: Jan Rhodin
-1972: Roland Ackelman
Record history
History of updates2025-04-14: 2025-04-14:
Latest document update2025-04-14 12:49:27
Google map
From left: Nika, Pelle Zettersten, Dan Koehl and Shiva, during a walk on Skansen. Photo: <a href="http://www.catharinaflorman.com/" title="Catharina Koch-Florman - mer vild än tam">Catharina Koch-Florman</a>

From left: Nika, Pelle Zettersten, Dan Koehl and Shiva, during a walk on Skansen. Photo: Catharina Koch-Florman
Description

Stockholm Zoo (Skansen), located at Box 27807, in Stockholm, Sweden , was founded in 1891 and the first elephant arrived in 1930. The last elephant left in 1992..

Casualties

2 casualties
  1. 1984-06: elephant head-keeper Bill Hemberg attacked by Shiva. when Hemberg were cleaning the outdoor pool. Prssed him several times against a concrete wall. Bill Hemberg Survived. had teeh cracked, sever head wounds, and treated for concussion at Danderyd hospital, Stockholm.
  2. 1989: zookeeper Bo Larsson attacked by Shiva. during footcare. Pushed Larsson into a concrete wall. Bo Larsson Survived. treated for concussion at Karolinska hospital, Stockholm.

Comments / picturesSkansen is Sweden´s national Zoo and was founded 1891, not actually as a zoo, but as worlds first free-air museum exhibiting old cottages and houses from all over Sweden. In order to attract visitors, animals was also included in the concept, not only scandinavian, but also tropical Species.

The first elephant at Skansen was Topsy who came 1930 from Hagenbecks Tierpark, in Hamburg, together with a keeper, on loan during the summer. Topsy was a great success as ride-elephant and Skansen bought their first elephant Lunkentuss in 1931, adding Bambina in 1939.

Stockholm Zoo (Skansen) in Sweden Sweden
Elephant Lunkentuss arrived in 1931, dead 1941.

Lunkentuss had to be shot 1941, and after Bambina was alone a couple of years, Fatima was bought in 1951, and in 1960 Nika was added. During some years Skansen kept three elephants.

Stockholm Zoo (Skansen) in Sweden Sweden

Noi was bought in 1967, after Bambina died January 1967 in Sepsis.

Fatima was sold to Ahlborg Zoo in Denmark, and Noi was sent to Copenhagen for cover in 1980, why Nika was single elephant from 1980 until 1984 when Shiva arrived from Circus Sariola in Finland. Nika became very dependant on her keepers during those years, and her social behaviour was fairly focused on soclai relationship with the staff. Every morning after keepers arrived, she wanted to stand and just greet the keeper, asking them by pulling them them close to her ear, to rumble into the ear on close distance.

Rumbling is of course one of the more common sounds between elephants, but not many keepers has used this way of communicating with their elephants, in order to strengthen the bonding.

Stockholm Zoo (Skansen) in Sweden Sweden
From middle eighties, except for winter months, the elephants were taken for walks around the zoo by the head keeper Dan Koehl four to five times a day, the morning walk through the forest outside the zoo, finishing with a bath in the Djurgårdsbrunn channel.

Skansen was among the first Zoos in Europa to keep their elephants unchained in night, from 1989, they were only tethered with chains for short training sessions, but walked free the whole night, thus making the stable of 86 m2 the largest night box for unchained elephants in Europe.

Stockholm Zoo (Skansen) in Sweden Sweden
The stable of 86 m2 was in 1991 the largest night box for unchained elephants in Free Contact in Europe.

The elephant house at Skansen was 86 square meter but the Swedish Board of Agriculture demand 200 square meters stable, and 2000 m2 outside enclosure, why Skansen was supposed to build a new house and a larger outer enclosure.

In 1992 Skansen decided to close their elephant department, a decision which became criticized in a campaign from Media and citizens of Stockholm, who feared the elephants would suffer or even die from a relocation. In spite of the efforts of the organization Rädda Skansens Elefanter, the Zoo realized their decision and Nika and Shiva was send to England.

Skansen gave their last elephants Nika and Shiva for free to Cricket St. Thomas wildlife Park in Somerset, UK, with the condition that Cricket paid and organized the transport.

21 year old Shiva died after three months, Nika after two years in Spain, where she was shipped after Cricket Zoo was prohibited to keep elephants.


References for records about Stockholm Zoo (Skansen)

Recommended Citation

Koehl, Dan (2025). Stockholm Zoo (Skansen), Elephant Encyclopedia. Available online at https://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=30. (archived at the Wayback machine)

Sources used for this article is among others:

  • Elefanten - Mein Leben, by Karl Kock
  • Dan Koehl
  • Perti Sariola, Finland
  • Erland Wadsten, Skansen
  • Article by Olaf Tietz, head elephantkeeper Zoo Rostock, Elefanten in Zoo und Circus magazine, nr 9-2006, p 30


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