Over 10 thousand visit Dutch park to see baby elephant

Baby elephant Madiba, born at the Beekse Bergen safari park on Wednesday morning, caused massive amounts of traffic both in the Hilvarenbeek park and on the roads towards it on Thursday. The lines were getting so long that by noon the park asked visitors still underway to choose a different destination.

"We are not surprised by the crowds", spokesperson Ron van Kuijk said to Omroep Brabant. "And with the weather looking like it does today, there is of course nothing better than to come to Beekse Bergen. Especially when there is a little baby elephant skipping about."

According to Van Kuijk, by noon there were more than 10 thousand visitors in the park and a traffic jam of more than an hour on the highway towards the park. Because of this the park advised visitors still on their way to visit somewhere else today. The park will also be open for an extra hour to accommodate those waiting in line.

Madiba was born at 2:13 a.m. on Wednesday to African elephant mother Punda after a record breaking 23 month pregnancy. Both Madiba and Punda are doing very well and the park hopes that the baby will be strong enough to explore the outside habitat over the weekend.