FANS of one of Colchester Zoo's most popular animals were out to say their farewells at the weekend after Jambo the young elephant's departure date was announced.

Roddy Ashworth

FANS of one of Colchester Zoo's most popular animals were out to say their farewells at the weekend after Jambo the young elephant's departure date was announced.

Last year it was announced that Jambo and his half-brother Kito, both African bull elephants, were to travel to make a new home at a Spanish zoo where they would take part in a European Breeding programme.

And now it has been confirmed that Jambo will be the first to leave the Stanway visitor attraction and begin the four day journey to BioPark Valencia tomorrow morning.

The elephant will be accompanied on his journey by a keeper from Colchester Zoo who will stay with Jambo in Spain until he has fully settled in to his new home.

Kito will follow at a later date in the same way.

Many people have regularly visited Jambo, his half-brother and his parents Tembo and Rosa to watch him grow at the zoo since his birth in March 2004.

He is known as a confident and boisterous young elephant and it is hoped he will adapt to his new surroundings well.

Bioparc Valencia has a large and complex exhibit for African elephants. This consists of two spacious outdoor exhibits, one off-show outdoor exhibit and six indoor stables, two of which are especially designed to house large and bull elephants, who are extremely powerful.

Two enormous baobab trees, along with other suitable vegetation, provide the necessary shade for the animals as well as places for the elephants to scratch their huge bodies.

A large pool, several metres deep, has been built for the animals to bathe and swim in.