Raja, Saint Louis Zoo's first-born elephant, moves to Cincinnati after 33 years
The 33-year-old Asian elephant, born at the St. Louis Zoo in 1992, arrived at the Cincinnati Zoo on October 29 as part of a managed breeding program.
By Jack Weber ·
Raja, the first elephant born at the Saint Louis Zoo, has left his only home after 33 years. The 33-year-old Asian elephant arrived at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden on the afternoon of Thursday, October 29. He is settling into the Elephant Trek exhibit, according to a Friday announcement from the Cincinnati Zoo.
Raja was born on December 27, 1992. For more than three decades, St. Louis residents watched him grow from a calf into a father and later a grandfather. His departure ends a long era for families who visited the zoo across multiple generations.
Katie Pilgram-Kloppe, curator of mammals and ungulates at the Saint Louis Zoo, said in a statement that Raja leaves a legacy in the zoo's multigenerational elephant family. She noted that while the zoo is sad to see him go, the move allows him and Samudra to start new families and contribute to the endangered species.
The relocation was recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Asian Elephant Species Survival Plan. This cooperative breeding program aims to maintain a genetically healthy population of Asian elephants in accredited North American zoos. The move also mirrors natural behavior, as male Asian elephants often leave their family herds as adults to live alone or in small groups.
Raja leaves behind three daughters, Maliha, Jade, and Priya. He also leaves his grandson, Jet, who was born in November 2024. Raja's mother, Pearl, remains at the Saint Louis Zoo, where the elephant family now spans four generations.
The Saint Louis Zoo plans to bring in another male Asian elephant to replace Raja. The zoo will welcome 18-year-old Samudra from the Oregon Zoo in 2027. Samudra was identified as a suitable match for the St. Louis herd through the same breeding program.
