Meet Motty: The rarest elephant on earth and the only hybrid

Meet Motty: The rarest elephant on Earth and the only hybrid (Image: Derek G. Lyon)

At Chester Zoo in England, something truly rare once happened. On 11 July 1978, a baby elephant named Motty was born. But this was no ordinary birth. Motty was the only known hybrid between two elephant species.

He was the result of a mating between Sheba, an Asian elephant, and Jumbolino, an African bull. Scientists had not thought such a hybrid existed. But here he was, small and special, with characteristics of both parents. His body showed traits from the two species, large ears like an African elephant but with toenails like an Asian one.

A life too short but never forgotten

Sadly, Motty lived just ten days after birth. He died from a gut infection and E. coli septicaemia. Even with the care of zoo workers, his health soon declined. His premature death meant he never did grow, but his tale left a footprint in history.

Motty's body was preserved through taxidermy after his death. Today, he remains at the Natural History Museum in London. Visitors can still see the rarest elephant the world has ever known.

The only one of his kind

Since Motty’s birth, no other elephant hybrid has been recorded. Scientists still consider his case unique and unrepeatable. Motty showed us that nature is capable of surprising us, even when we don't expect it. His brief life still evokes curiosity and awe around the globe.