Once again, Terra Natura Benidorm is pulling out all the stops to celebrate its most famous resident, Petita the elephant, who is turning 53.
Once shunned by her herd for not fitting in, Petita has now become the park’s star. Petita lives comfortably alongside her companion, Kaiso, with whom she shares a strong bond.
Benidorm’s birthday girl’s big day
The big day is set for Saturday, 23 August, and the park has a packed schedule of activities. The celebration kicks off at 11:00 with a traditional welcome ceremony. Visitors get a bindi placed on their foreheads, a nod to its Indian origins, symbolising protection and wisdom.
From the entrance, guests can join a parade of dancers in saris and musicians making their way to the elephant meadow. There, Petita and Kaiso will be treated to a huge feast of fresh fruit and vegetables while everyone sings “Happy Birthday.”
The fun doesn’t stop there. In the village of Namastepur, the festival’s famous colour battle will take place. The battle will feature 320 kilos of coloured powders and bottles of tinted water in eight bright shades, all made with food colouring.
The famous colour battle. Image: Terra Natura Benidorm / Facebook.
Later in the afternoon, the party moves to Aqua Natura water park, where a DJ will get the crowds moving during a foam and colour party.
Benidorm’s bigger mission
Beyond the festivities, the park has a bigger mission: raising awareness about conservation. Asian elephants like Petita are endangered. Terra Natura cares for four of them under strict welfare protocols, including positive training, veterinary checks, a balanced diet, and environmental enrichment.
During the celebration, visitors can also attend talks and workshops to learn more about these gentle giants.
Asian elephants play a vital role in nature, helping forests regenerate and spreading seeds. In the wild, they face many threats, from habitat loss and human conflict to poaching and climate change.
