Queen Elizabeth II is famous for globetrotting during her reign, having visited 16 countries in more than 265 official visits. During this time, the Queen amassed an impressive collection of gifts from places she has visited and people visiting her. Among these gifts are a selection of exotic animals, some of which are too big to live within her estate walls.

Which animals has the Queen been gifted?

Queen Elizabeth II has been gifted hundreds of animals during her time on the throne.

According to the Royal Collection Trust (RCT), which records the Queen’s gifts from other countries, most the animals given to the monarch are horses.

Some of them are much more exotic, and once gifted are passed to the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and their zoos in London and Whipsnade.

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One sloth and two black jaguars

According to the RCT, the Queen was gifted a sloth and two black jaguars in 1968.

The exotic animals were given to her by the Prefect of Brasília, with the jaguars named Marques and Aizita.

All three animals were sent to London Zoo when shipped back to the UK.

A Nile crocodile

Nile crocodiles are native to the Nile River in Africa and are known to grow as long as 16.4 feet in length.

One young crocodile was gifted to the Queen in 1961 by the People of Berending on the Zambia River.

As with the sloth, Marques and Aizita, the crocodile went to London Zoo.

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An African forest elephant

The Queen has an African forest elephant named Jumbo.

Jumbo was given to the Queen in 1972 during a state visit to Cameroon by President Ahidjo and flown back to the UK with an in-flight meal of avocados, bananas and sugar.

Weighing just over half a tonne on arrival, he was kept in London Zoo and later the rural zoo at Whipsnade.

Cows

Of the last 10 animals gifted to the Queen eight were horses and two were cattle.

Queen Elizabeth was given an Aberdeen Angus cow from the Calgary Stampede in 2005 during her official visit to Canada.

The cow stayed in Calgary as the Foundation Cow for the Calgary Stampede Centennial Herd.

She was also given a Nguni bull during her visit to South Africa in 1995 by King of Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu of the Zulus, which remains in South Africa.

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