A Virtual Celebration!
For the safety of Zoo guests, staff and the animals, there will not be any birthday celebration activities at River's Edge for guests.
Guests visiting the Zoo on December 27 will not be able to witness the birthday celebration.
Who doesn’t love a great birthday celebration? While this year is still a bit different, our love and care for Raja remains the same! For 28 years, we’ve been celebrating male Asian elephant Raja’s birthday with huge signs in the form of enrichment-filled birthday presents decorating his habitat for the big day. No matter where you are you can celebrate with Raja from the comfort of your own couch!
Enjoy this special pre-taped video of Raja’s 29th (yes, he’s 29!) birthday celebration!
The elephant care team will be sure the birthday boy and the rest of the elephant family enjoy some extra special enrichment in honor of the day.
Raja, the first Asian elephant born at the Zoo on December 27, 1992, is the father of three female calves at the Zoo — Maliha, 15, Jade, 14, and Priya, 8.
#RajasBirthday
Join the Celebration!
- Watch the virtual celebration here on this page or at Facebook.com/stlzoo, Instagram.com/stlzoo and Twitter.com/stlzoo.
- On his birthday, enjoy special virtual activities and sign Raja's virtual birthday card here!
Click here to see photos and videos from past celebrations!
Media Partner:
93.7 The Bull
To learn more about sponsorship opportunities for Wild Lights or other Zoo special events, please contact sponsorship@stlzoo.org.
Our Zoo is Helping Asian Elephants
There are nearly 50,000 Asian elephants left in the wild, and they are facing extinction due habitat loss and destruction. Given the shrinking population of Asian elephants, the Saint Louis Zoo is committed to conserving this endangered species. The Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute Center for Asian Elephant Conservation supports the welfare and conservation of Asian elephants in Sumatra and other countries in Asia, India and Myanmar. The Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute Center for Conservation in the Horn of Africa also supports conservation of African elephants in Kenya through the Northern Rangelands Trust.
The Zoo also participates in the Species Survival Plan® (SSP) for Asian elephants. This is a cooperative breeding program, with a number of zoos working together to ensure the survival of the species. In addition, our state-of-the-art elephant facility River's Edge was designed to enable us to breed our elephants -- and our plans have definitely paid off!
We Care About Elephants
Want to know more about how the Saint Louis Zoo takes care of Asian elephants?
Missouri House Commends Elephant Care
Getting Ready for Baby (elephant, that is!)
The Need to Breed
Managing our Asian Elephant Population
Elephant Edibles
Providing Excellent Elephant Nutrition