Riccardo Liguori The video capturing the final farewell between the two pachyderms at the Taigan Lion Park in Crimea has moved the entire world, reminding us of the emotional depth of elephants
@Baza
Magda and Jenny weren’t free elephants. They were taken away from circus stages throughout Russia and the world for nearly four decades. Tight as sisters, they had joys, hardships, and a deep camaraderie. In March 2021, following an accident during a Kazan show, their trainer decided to retire them to Taigan Lion Park, an enormous 75-acre property where approximately 60 African lions live. They performed smaller performances here in Crimea, a bittersweet reminder of their time in the spotlight.
Both of theirs was shattered in December of 2024 when Jenny fell ill with urolithiasis (kidney stones). Despite the attention of the veterinarians, her extremely advanced age—at least 50 years—was more than she could bear. Jenny collapsed on the morning of March 13 and passed away for good.
Magda’s reaction was tragic. At the beginning, she attempted to awaken her friend, shoving her and attempting to lift her. Afterwards, she began embracing her with her trunk, a desperate display of love. For several hours, Magda stood guarding over Jenny’s body, greeting her goodbye and pushing away the veterinarians. A silent, painful goodbye that melted the hearts of all the people who witnessed the video.
@greenme_it L’elefantessa Jenny è morta qualche giorno al #TaiganLionPark a causa di una malattia alla vescica. Ma la sua fedele amica (con cui si è esibita al circo per 25 anni) è rimasta per ore a vegliare sul corpo, accarezzandola con la proboscide. L’addio è straziante… . . . #elefanti #amicizia #circo #viralvideos #empatia
The clip, uploaded by Taigan Lion Park, shows Magda stroking Jenny with her trunk, kicking her with her foot in a desperate attempt to elicit a response. She then strokes her deceased friend’s body with her trunk in a final, heartbreaking farewell.
Elephants are animals that freely display an intense awareness of death. They often return to where their mates have died, a trait indicating a strong emotional bond and permanent memory of loved ones. Such is the ability of Magda and Jenny as demonstrated in their case.
Their bond, born amidst the glare of the circus, stood the vagaries of time and adversity and ended quietly in Taigan Lion Park. Still, Jenny’s death left behind an irreparable void in Magda’s existence, a void that the images of her grief allow us to feel in its entirety.
These marvelous elephants, with their ability to feel deeply and to form unbreakable bonds, are not circus acts or tourist attractions. They are animals with a complex and rich emotional existence. Their pain is pain that we can understand and relate to.
