ZX38U-5 Premium Used excavator helps Elephant Haven prepare for a new resident

Europe’s first elephant sanctuary, Elephant Haven, has shared an exciting update with Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV (HCME) about its plans for the future and how its Hitachi Premium Used ZX38U-5 mini excavator is helping on site in Limousin, France.

Tender heavy-lifting care

Since welcoming 54-year-old Gandhi in October 2021, Elephant Haven has been hard at work building shelters, loading supplies and generally looking after its first resident. “Elephants need so much care and attention – even without Gandhi’s age-related health problems like arthritis – so we are glad that our Hitachi ZX38U-5 mini excavator can help with the heavy-lifting work,” says Elephant Haven founder Tony Verhulst.

The perfect job

The ZX38U-5 mini excavator also helps to keep Gandhi fresh, happy and healthy while out in the fields. Staff at the sanctuary use the excavator to transport and turn clay, which Gandhi can use to “protect herself against insects and the warm French sun” and loosen sand in her shelter “which is much better for her feet than when the sand is compacted”.

“This is the perfect job for our Hitachi excavator – even if the clay is sticky or dense, the machine is unstoppable,” continues Tony. “Working in the sandboxes is not always easy, but the ZX38U-5 can easily manoeuvre in a confined space, and it does not make much noise, so Gandhi gets on well with her hydraulic companion.”

Thanks to generous donations and outreach, Elephant Haven will also soon receive a new resident at the growing sanctuary. “If all goes well, Delhi will arrive here in August,” says Tony. “She is a 38-year-old elephant from Ústí nad Labem Zoo in the Czech Republic.”

HCME looks forward to hearing more from our friends at Elephant Sanctuary and finding out how the Hitachi Premium Used ZX38U-5 is helping towards a good cause.