Ah elephants, the forefront in the battle against zoos. Back in the day, people said you cant call yourself a zoo, if you don't have elephants. Most of the general public does still think this statement. However sense the late 1900s, over 30 US zoos have phased out elephants. This includes my 2 home zoos. Brookfield, and Lincoln park. Brookfield made the decision to phase out elephants in 2010 when their last cow was sent elsewhere. and Lincoln park sense 2005. So lets take a look at the past, present, and future of the elephants of the windy city.
Past- Lincoln park first exhibited elephants in the early 1900s. The zoo held both Asian and African elephants in the large mammal house. It was a awful cramped concrete exhibit with no realism at all. This all changed in 2003 when The new African Journey exhibit opened. This included 2 decent exhibits for African elephants. The inhabitants Included a trio of African females, Tatima, Peaches and Wankie. However there time in this exhibit was short. Tatima, and Peaches passed away in 2004. Wankie passed away in May 2005 while on his way to the Hogle zoo. The zoo has not have held the pachyderms sense.
Brookfield has had elephants ever sense the grand opening in 1934. It held about 5 Asian elephants, including the big bull, Ziggy. Ziggy arrived at the zoo after he outgrew his pen at the Zigfeild mansion, Where mr, Zigfield bought the pachyderm for his daughters birthday. He then spent a few years in the circus were he hurled a tuba player to his death. When he arrived at the zoo he lived the normal zoo elephant life. Until he nearly killed a keeper and was kept inside in a stall for 30 years! However money was raised and the elephant enclosure was expanded, which gave Ziggy a new bull yard. Sadly, he fell into a moat separating him from visitors. They got him out, but he died 7 months later. The zoo has not held a bull sense. The zoo recently had 3 elephants. Most noticeable is Affie. She was a female African elephant who lived with Christy, another young female. Every year the people of Chicago celebrated her birthday. Sadly, Affie passed away in 2009 at the age of just 39. To get Christy a companion, the zoo brought in a young female named Joyce. The elephant yard had been renovated adding new enrichment to the yard. Sadly, Christy passed away a few months later due to kidney failure. Joyce was alone for a year until she was sent back to were she came. The zoo quickly assured that elephants would return in a expanded habitat in the pachyderm house with a new indoor exhibit... This plan was cancelled due to funding.
Present- Today, neither zoos have talked about any plans to bring elephants back. Currently both zoos have used the old yards to house black rhinos. Camels where held in the old yard in Lincoln park for a little bit as well.
Future- Lincoln park will most likely never hold elephants again. The zoo is small, and land locked. Brookfield is a different story however. The zoo is working on bringing elephants back, although no plans have been made as of now. What I hope is that Brookfield pulls the Omaha card and after a few years without elephants, builds a huge wonderful exhibit for them that can house a family herd. So then, What are your ideas on how elephants can return? News might break soon, due to a sudden addition of elephant statues near the giraffe yard. Trust me, when it does, I'm making a extremely over the top post on the Brookfield zoo news thread. I also want this thread to be a news feed for the return of elephants. I guess only time will tell, and enjoy this thread for news, and please share your ideas.
Past- Lincoln park first exhibited elephants in the early 1900s. The zoo held both Asian and African elephants in the large mammal house. It was a awful cramped concrete exhibit with no realism at all. This all changed in 2003 when The new African Journey exhibit opened. This included 2 decent exhibits for African elephants. The inhabitants Included a trio of African females, Tatima, Peaches and Wankie. However there time in this exhibit was short. Tatima, and Peaches passed away in 2004. Wankie passed away in May 2005 while on his way to the Hogle zoo. The zoo has not have held the pachyderms sense.
Brookfield has had elephants ever sense the grand opening in 1934. It held about 5 Asian elephants, including the big bull, Ziggy. Ziggy arrived at the zoo after he outgrew his pen at the Zigfeild mansion, Where mr, Zigfield bought the pachyderm for his daughters birthday. He then spent a few years in the circus were he hurled a tuba player to his death. When he arrived at the zoo he lived the normal zoo elephant life. Until he nearly killed a keeper and was kept inside in a stall for 30 years! However money was raised and the elephant enclosure was expanded, which gave Ziggy a new bull yard. Sadly, he fell into a moat separating him from visitors. They got him out, but he died 7 months later. The zoo has not held a bull sense. The zoo recently had 3 elephants. Most noticeable is Affie. She was a female African elephant who lived with Christy, another young female. Every year the people of Chicago celebrated her birthday. Sadly, Affie passed away in 2009 at the age of just 39. To get Christy a companion, the zoo brought in a young female named Joyce. The elephant yard had been renovated adding new enrichment to the yard. Sadly, Christy passed away a few months later due to kidney failure. Joyce was alone for a year until she was sent back to were she came. The zoo quickly assured that elephants would return in a expanded habitat in the pachyderm house with a new indoor exhibit... This plan was cancelled due to funding.
Present- Today, neither zoos have talked about any plans to bring elephants back. Currently both zoos have used the old yards to house black rhinos. Camels where held in the old yard in Lincoln park for a little bit as well.
Future- Lincoln park will most likely never hold elephants again. The zoo is small, and land locked. Brookfield is a different story however. The zoo is working on bringing elephants back, although no plans have been made as of now. What I hope is that Brookfield pulls the Omaha card and after a few years without elephants, builds a huge wonderful exhibit for them that can house a family herd. So then, What are your ideas on how elephants can return? News might break soon, due to a sudden addition of elephant statues near the giraffe yard. Trust me, when it does, I'm making a extremely over the top post on the Brookfield zoo news thread. I also want this thread to be a news feed for the return of elephants. I guess only time will tell, and enjoy this thread for news, and please share your ideas.
