Former Yugoslav Leader Tito’s Elephant Dies in Croatia
BalkanTravellers.com
The 42-year-old elephant was one of the park’s best-known residents. Together with his partner, the female elephant Lanka, he arrived in 1970, at the age of two, as a gift from India’s then-Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. Since then, he was seen by more than four million visitors.
According to national and regional media, the elephant’s death was unexpected, as the animal was not sick previously. In order to find the reason for his demise, the elephant’s body has been sent for an autopsy.
Vesna Klunić of the Brijuni National Park told media that special attention now will be directed towards Sony's partner Lanka.
The national park is located on a group of 14 islands, which stretches along the south-west coast of the Istrian peninsula. The present day boundaries of the National Park were set in 1999 and comprise the land, the surrounding sea with the seabed and cover an area of around 34 square kilometres.
In addition to the Brijuni archipelago’s extraordinary biological diversity thanks to its geographical location, its geological base and geomorphology, its diversity of the habitat and its island isolation, the national park also offers visitors the chance to explore geological and archaeological sites and several exhibitions.
One of the permanent exhibitions at the park is a photo exhibition documenting Josip Broz Tito’s visits to Brioni. Opened in 1984, the exhibition presents the activities of the former Yugoslav leader on the island from1947 when he first arrived until the very last day of his stay in 1979. Over a period of thirty years numerous visits were recorded, ranging from various delegations, statesmen, associates and friends, as well as famous personalities from the world of culture, art and science.
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