Janu Celebrates his 20th Birthday with a fruity ice lolly!

This week we celebrated a very special milestone at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm ...Janu the African elephant turned 20 years old!

Born in July 2005 at Howletts Wild Animal Park in Kent, Janu later moved to Port Lympne before joining us here in 2014.

To mark the big 2–0, our dedicated elephant keepers created a birthday ice lolly fit for a giant! The icy treat was packed full of Janu’s favourite fruits and veggies, including watermelon, apple, lemon and carrot... all frozen together in a dustbin-sized block for him to enjoy on a warm summer’s day!

Janu lives in Elephant Eden, the largest elephant habitat in the UK, alongside fellow elephants Shaka, Sutton and Uli. The habitat features rolling paddocks, a heated indoor barn, a deep sand yard, and even a swimming pool – offering plenty of space for wallowing, foraging and play.

As part of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP), Elephant Eden is designed to support the unique needs of African elephants, especially males like Janu. Our pioneering environment gives them the chance to develop socially, learn from one another and display natural behaviours – all within a safe, spacious and enriching setting.

Did you know African elephants are the largest land animals on the planet? Found across 37 countries in Africa, they’re known for their iconic large ears, strong trunks and remarkable intelligence.

Happy Birthday Janu! Here’s to many more frozen treats and muddy adventures ahead! 🐘