Bhunte was relaxing under an Acacia tree when he overheard his aunts sharing stories about the past. As he listened in, he learned that in 1978, on the 11th of July, Sheba, an Asian elephant mother at the Chester Zoo in England, gave birth to a male calf named Motty. Motty’s father was an African elephant named Jumbolino, making Motty the first and only hybrid elephant to ever exist!

Photo credit: Kenneth W. Green

Motty had a unique blend of features from both African and Asian elephants. His trunk tip was like that of an Asian elephant, while his wrinkles mimicked those of African elephants. He had ears and a body like an African elephant, but a central hump like that of an Asian elephant. His head was like that of an African elephant, with two tiny dome-like features. His nails were like an Asian elephant’s, while his legs resembled those of an African elephant. Sadly, just 10 days after Motty’s birth, on July 21st, 1978, he died due to an umbilical infection! Bhunte couldn’t help but feel sad about Sheba and Motty and wonder how Motty would have adapted as a hybrid elephant- it would have been a daunting task to adjust (adapt) to his unique blend of features!

~Sanjeeta Sharma Pokharel

Reference: “The Proboscidea: evolution and palaeoecology of elephants and their relatives”, pages 53-54.