Elephants joyfully react to didgeridoo performance - ABQ BioPark Zoo

The ABQ BioPark’s Asian elephants received a very special performance from Allan McKenzie, a Gamilaroi/ Wiradjuri man, internationally acclaimed artist and Aboriginal advisor of Boomalli Consulting based in Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia.

Allan played the didgeridoo for elephants Alice and Irene, under the watchful eye of the elephant care team, and the unfamiliar sound was welcomed with incredible excitement! The girls stayed close to Allan and expressed their joy by touching trunks, raising their feet and tails, flapping their ears, chirping and trumpeting, which are all greeting behaviors between elephants.

This didgeridoo was created with a semi flared bottom and hand carved from a piece of yellow box wood from Wiradjuri County. Allan gifted the instrument to BioPark Director Dr. Baird Fleming, man to man, as it is a male instrument to show respect and appreciation.

Boomalli Consulting managing director Shannon Barnes and Allan were in Albuquerque to create Aboriginal immersion features for and guide the design of the upcoming Australia expansion at the BioPark.

00:00:47 - First reaction
00:02:25 - Epic reaction
00:03:31 - Duet