Were prehistoric humans friends with elephants? Here at the Jerusalem Zoo, also known as the Tisch Family Zoological Gardens, we ponder that very question. This zoo, one of several locations in Israel with a history of keeping elephants, holds a special connection to these magnificent creatures. The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo also housed elephants. Currently, the Tisch Family Zoological Gardens is home to four elephants. This isn’t a large number compared to the eight elephants they have kept in total, or the impressive 56 elephants housed at the Ramat Gan Zoo. Still, each elephant here has a story. Israel has a rich, complex history with elephants. Evidence shows elephants lived here as far back as two million years ago. Imagine, straight-tusked elephants, twice the size of modern elephants, roaming this land. At Revadim, in southern Israel, archaeologists found not only elephant remains but also hundreds of flint tools. These tools suggest prehistoric humans hunted elephants for sustenance. A single elephant could feed a group for a long time. But the relationship wasn’t just about hunting. Discoveries hint at a deeper connection. Symbolic artifacts made from elephant bones suggest a respect and awe for these gentle giants. Perhaps, as some scholars believe, prehistoric humans even followed elephant migration routes out of Africa, relying on the animals’ knowledge of water sources and their incredible memory. So, as we observe the elephants here at the Jerusalem Zoo, we’re not just looking at animals in an enclosure. We’re looking at a living link to a prehistoric past, a reminder of a time when humans and elephants shared this land in a complex dance of survival and reverence.
African Savannah
Is it possible to imagine the heart of Africa beating in Jerusalem? Right here at the African Savannah in the