Asian & African elephants in the United states 2013 (Zoos only)

Spixii

Spixii

Well-Known Member
10+ year member
I will include the animals in Canada and Mexico which are listed under the SSP
a '*' next to a facility name indicates that they are breeding elephants
Current holdings of African Elephant (Loxodonta Africana):

Woodland Park zoo 0.1
*Oakland Zoo 1.3
*San Diego Safari Park 7.6
San Diego Zoo 0.2
*Reid Park Zoo 3.2
*Utah's Hogle Zoo 0.3
Cameron Park Zoo 0.3
Caldwell Zoo 0.3
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo 0.3
Dallas zoo 0.5
Montgomery Zoo 0.3
Birmingham Zoo 4.0
Jacksonville zoo 1.3
Miami Metro zoo 0.2
*Lowry Park Zoo 1.4
*Disney's Animal Kingdom 4.8
*North Carolina Zoo 2.5
Virginia Zoo 0.2
Milwaukee County Zoo 0.2
Riverbanks Zoo 0.4
Greenville Zoo 0.2
Louisville Zoo 0.1
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo 1.4
Toledo Zoo 2.2
Lee Richardson Zoo 0.2
Sedgwick County zoo 0.2
Topeka Zoo 0.1
Kansas City Zoo 0.6
*Indianapolis Zoo 1.7
*Pittsburgh Zoo 1.6
*International Conservation Center 1.4
Seneca Park Zoo 0.2
Roger Williams Zoo 0.3
Maryland Zoo 2.3
Zoo De Granby 0.1 (1.0 from Germany coming soon)
Toronto Zoo 0.3 (soon departing for PAWS)
Riddle's Elephant Sanctuary 2.2 (are they an AZA affiliate?)
Hemingford Park Safari 1.1
Six Flags Great Adventure 0.9
Six Flags Marine World 0.1
Africam Safari 3.6
Wildlife Safari 1.2

Total:
40.134
174 animals total
Since 1999 35 (18,17) African elephants have been born in zoos... An average of 2.5 births per year.
 
Last edited:
Asian elephant population (Elphas Maximus):
Point Defiance Zoo 0.2
Woodland Park Zoo 0.2
*Portland Zoo 4.4
Fresno Chaffee Zoo 0.2
Santa Barbara Zoo 0.2
San Diego Zoo 1.3
Los Angeles Zoo 1.2
*ABQ Biopark 2.4 (female due this year)
Phoenix Zoo 0.3
El Paso Zoo 0.2
San Antonio Zoo 0.1 (attained AZA lenience)
*Fort worth Zoo 1.3
Buttonwood park Zoo 0.2
Louisville Zoo 0.1
*OKC zoo 1.3
Tulsa Zoo 1.2
Littlerock zoo 0.2
Niabi zoo 0.2
*Dickerson Park Zoo 2.3
*St. Louis zoo 1.9
* Cincinnati Zoo 1.3
*Columbus Zoo 2.2
*Calgary Zoo 1.3(sending animals to the southern U.S.)
*National Zoo 1.2 (attaining animal from Baton Rouge)
Baton Rouge 0.1
Audubon Zoo 0.2 (expanding elephant house and exhibit)
Denver Zoo 2.2 (importing male from Belgium this Summer)
Miami Metro 1.2
*African Lion Safari 4.9
*Rosamond Gifford zoo 2.5
Buffalo Zoo 0.2
Bronx Zoo 0.3
Topeka 0.1
*Honolulu Zoo 0.2
*Houston 3.4
*Busch Gardens Tampa Bay 0.5
Six Flags Marine world 0.2
Riddle's Elephant Sanctuary 0.2
*Have Trunk Will Travel 0.5

*Ringling 9.36 (although not a member of the AZA Ringling has contributed several males to the SSP and I predict eventually females as well)

Total 40.145
187 animals
 
Last edited:
Thanks for this information loxodontaafrica. A couple of questions:

-Is PAWS itself included in this list? How many animals do they have? Do they breed at all?
-With the massive bias towards female elephants in both species, but almost perfectly equal numbers of each sex being born now (at least for African Elephants), is it safe to assume that these will even out over time? How will American zoos cope with the large increase in males? Are bachelor herds an option, or will there be tens of individual bull enclosures?
 
zooboy28 said:
Thanks for this information loxodontaafrica. A couple of questions:

-Is PAWS itself included in this list? How many animals do they have? Do they breed at all?
-With the massive bias towards female elephants in both species, but almost perfectly equal numbers of each sex being born now (at least for African Elephants), is it safe to assume that these will even out over time? How will American zoos cope with the large increase in males? Are bachelor herds an option, or will there be tens of individual bull enclosures?
Click to expand...

I did not include PAWS or the Tennessee elephant Sanctuary because they are both facilities which are of Anti-Zoo sentiment, and will not contribute in the long term viability of elephants in captivity. PAWS currently houses 2.3 Asian and 0.3 African. As you said the sex ratio will eventually even out, as a preventative measure I believe reproductive specialists have been able to spin semen for a higher probability of female calves in AI situations. But bachelor groups have been established, presently in Denver (for Asian) and Birmingham (for African). The National elephant center will be receiving a ten year old male from Disney, and serve as a bachelor and breeding facility. Oregon has just secured land to construct a off-show bachelor facility, and the National Zoo has voiced desire to do so on its front royal breeding facility.
 
loxodontaafrica said:
Asian elephant population (Elphas Maximus):
Point Defiance Zoo 0.2
Woodland Park Zoo 0.2
*Portland Zoo 4.4
Fresno Chaffee Zoo 0.2
Santa Barbara Zoo 0.2
San Diego Zoo 1.3
Los Angeles Zoo 1.2
*ABQ Biopark 2.4 (female due this year)
Phoenix Zoo 0.3
El Paso Zoo 0.2
San Antonio Zoo 0.1 (attained AZA lenience)
*Fort worth Zoo 1.3
*OKC zoo 1.3
Tulsa Zoo 1.2
*Dickerson Park Zoo 2.3
*St. Louis zoo 1.9
* Cincinnati Zoo 1.3
*Columbus Zoo 2.2
*Calgary Zoo 1.3(sending animals to the southern U.S.)
*National Zoo 1.2 (attaining animal from Baton Rouge)
Baton Rouge 0.1
Audubon Zoo 0.2 (expanding elephant house and exhibit)
Denver Zoo 2.2 (importing male from Belgium this Summer)
Miami Metro 1.2
*African Lion Safari 4.9
*Rosamond Gifford zoo 2.5
Buffalo Zoo 0.2
Topeka 0.1
*Honolulu Zoo 0.2
*Houston 3.4
*Busch Gardens Tampa Bay 0.5
Six Flags Marine world 0.2
Riddle's Elephant Sanctuary 0.2
*Have Trunk Will Travel 0.5

*Ringling 9.36 (although not a member of the AZA Ringling has contributed several males to the SSP and I predict eventually females as well)

Total 40.135
Click to expand...

Buttonwood Park Zoo has 0.2
 
loxodontaafrica said:
I did not include PAWS or the Tennessee elephant Sanctuary because they are both facilities which are of Anti-Zoo sentiment, and will not contribute in the long term viability of elephants in captivity. PAWS currently houses 2.3 Asian and 0.3 African. As you said the sex ratio will eventually even out, as a preventative measure I believe reproductive specialists have been able to spin semen for a higher probability of female calves in AI situations. But bachelor groups have been established, presently in Denver (for Asian) and Birmingham (for African). The National elephant center will be receiving a ten year old male from Disney, and serve as a bachelor and breeding facility. Oregon has just secured land to construct a off-show bachelor facility, and the National Zoo has voiced desire to do so on its front royal breeding facility.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, thats good that they are planning for more males with the bachelor herds, but at the same time trying to maximise female births.
 
A little zoo birdie told me that there may be some shake up with Birmingham's herd. That Callee and Ajani are approaching 14 or the age they could become breeders. Anyone else heard this? And what would be their likely destination? And which animals would likely replace them?
 
tschandler71 said:
A little zoo birdie told me that there may be some shake up with Birmingham's herd. That Callee and Ajani are approaching 14 or the age they could become breeders. Anyone else heard this? And what would be their likely destination? And which animals would likely replace them?
Click to expand...

Maryland Zoo is seeking a male elephant capable of breeding to replace their male, Tuffy. While the North Carolina Zoo is looking to send away Artie, in exchange for a more viable animal. I also know Knoxville wants to send away their bull Tonka in favor of an all female herd. But Callee and Ajani are most likely to depart to Maryland and NC, while Tonka, Artie, and Tuffy could all end up in Birmingham, or most like the NEC. Young males haven't really reached the age of familial separation yet, put Impunga, of Reid park, Kedar of Indianapolis (unless they want to keep him for a future natural breeding program), and Samson, from Maryland, could all potentially end up in Birmingham with in the next few years.
 
Elephant Population in North America:

40 Zoos with African Elephant
38 Zoos with Asian Elephant

Elephant Population in Europe:

68 Zoos with African Elephant (11 with East African Bush, 50 with South African Bush and 7 Generic)
129 Zoos with Asian Elephant (81 Generic, 1 Pigmy Bornean, 1 Malayan, 37 Indian, 7 Sri Lankan and 2 Sumatran)
 
Elephants in mexican zoos apart from africam safari park as far as i know

Morelia zoo 2 asians 1 male and 1 female
Yumka 1 male african
San Juan de Aragon zoo 1 female asian and 1 female african
Guadalajara zoo 2 female africans
Leon zoo 2 female africans
La Pastora zoo 2 africans 1 female and her male offspring
Zacango zoo 2 asians 1 male and 1 female
Sadly, there are various elephants in the deplorable mexican circuses.
 
loxodontaafrica said:
Maryland Zoo is seeking a male elephant capable of breeding to replace their male, Tuffy. While the North Carolina Zoo is looking to send away Artie, in exchange for a more viable animal. I also know Knoxville wants to send away their bull Tonka in favor of an all female herd. But Callee and Ajani are most likely to depart to Maryland and NC, while Tonka, Artie, and Tuffy could all end up in Birmingham, or most like the NEC. Young males haven't really reached the age of familial separation yet, put Impunga, of Reid park, Kedar of Indianapolis (unless they want to keep him for a future natural breeding program), and Samson, from Maryland, could all potentially end up in Birmingham with in the next few years.
Click to expand...

Birmingham's bachelor herd was supposed to pair Bulwagi with younger elephants, now that Tamani is at Birmingham is there no other pre-teen males in the the US zoo population? I don't know adding older elephants like Tuffy and Artie would do well with Bulwagi. Bulwagi and Tamani were also selected because they are used to interacting with hoofstock and Birmingham plans to place the Rhinos Waterbuck and the Giraffes on the flex exhibit with the elephants at the same time.
 
Maybe I wasn't specific enough @Tcshandler

The following young males could end up in Birmingham in the near future:
Kedar (8)- Indianapolis
Impunga (6)- Reid park
Samson (4)- Maryland
Kedar is unlikely, as I predict the zoo will want to breed him with Zahara, when they both mature. But he could just as easily be sent to B'ham to learn the ropes from Bulwagi.
Impunga hasn't entered puberty yet, and Samson is fairly young... So I think it will be some time until Birmingham receives more young animals. Unless they receive Maximus (10)-Riddle's... Which isn't out of the question, but unlikely.

I listed Artie and Tuffy, to say they would probably be replaced either by Callee or Ajani. However considering Jackson is verging on over representation in the population I don't think Callee will be utilized as a breeding animal in the near future.

Tonka, Tuffy, and Artie, will most likely end up at the NEC.
 
* So these are the zoos that have to expand their herds in the next couple of years: Woodland Park Zoo (do they count since their African cannot mix with the Asian?), Miami Metropark Zoo (once again only two for their Asian, but they have enough for their African so I'm not sure), Virginia Zoo, Milwaukee County Zoo, Greenville Zoo, Louisville Zoo (mixed), Lee Richardson Zoo, Sedgwick County Zoo, Topeka (mixed), Seneca Park Zoo, Six Flag Marine World (mixed), Point Defiance Zoo, Fresno Chaffe Zoo, Santa Barbara Zoo, El Paso Zoo, Buttonwood Zoo, Audubon Zoo, Buffalo Zoo, and Honolulu Zoo. That's quite a few zoos! It should be interesting to see what happens in the next few years...

* I am glad to see Dallas has more than two -- I read an article yesterday stating they only had two elephants and I did not think this was correct.

* I am glad if Tuffy gets moved from Maryland Zoo since he shows horrible stereotypical behaviors. I just hope the new male doesn't gain them there!
 
The Smithsonian National Zoo is not currently breeding their elephants. They have plans to in the future but it's not happening right now. Their current male is the son of one of the two female elephants and I don't think is breeding yet.

*I believe the Oregon Zoo has 2.4 (maybe 3?).

If anyone is interested: Bronx's 0.3 are Indian (by the way, only two are together as the third is anti-social), Smithsonian's male is Sri Lankan as is his mother and the other female is Indian (the arriving female is also Sri Lankan), and Cincinnati's male and one of their females are Malaysian and the other two females are Indian, and I believe Oregon has 2.2 Indian (maybe 2.1), 0.1 Malaysian, and 0.1 Bornean Pygmy. Those are the only ones I know.

@filipinos, I don't think it's believed African Bush Elephants have subspecies anymore but if so I think all U.S. elephants are L. a. africana.

*Not including the new calf that's a MalaysianXIndian cross.

~Thylo:cool:
 
Oh ok, yeah I knew Ajani would be the main breeder from the herd. The exhibit is designed to hold up to 6 Bulls. With Jackson's genes being over-represented and Tamani being young, Birmingham will likely have the base 3 for a while. At one time Thabo-Usami (the elephant from Germany that killed a trainer when he was still pretty young) was considered but went to another Zoo when they decided to match the father/son pair of Bulwagi and Tamani. They sent Callee and Ajani at 10 (hard to believe that was nearly 3 years ago), and Tamani at 8 but because he is Bulwagis offspring.

The exhibits concept is for over the long term a rotation of Bulls (except "retired" Bulwagi and probably Callee) from other zoos. I just didn't know if there were any about to enter their teenage years in order to replace Ajani who seems to be the next to leave to be a breeder somewhere.

From the sounds of Tuffy, I would be worried to place him in a herd with Bulwagi considering Bulwagi's timid nature.
 
blospz said:
* So these are the zoos that have to expand their herds in the next couple of years: Woodland Park Zoo (do they count since their African cannot mix with the Asian?), Miami Metropark Zoo (once again only two for their Asian, but they have enough for their African so I'm not sure), Virginia Zoo, Milwaukee County Zoo, Greenville Zoo, Louisville Zoo (mixed), Lee Richardson Zoo, Sedgwick County Zoo, Topeka (mixed), Seneca Park Zoo, Six Flag Marine World (mixed), Point Defiance Zoo, Fresno Chaffe Zoo, Santa Barbara Zoo, El Paso Zoo, Buttonwood Zoo, Audubon Zoo, Buffalo Zoo, and Honolulu Zoo. That's quite a few zoos! It should be interesting to see what happens in the next few years...

* I am glad to see Dallas has more than two -- I read an article yesterday stating they only had two elephants and I did not think this was correct.

* I am glad if Tuffy gets moved from Maryland Zoo since he shows horrible stereotypical behaviors. I just hope the new male doesn't gain them there!
Click to expand...

Woodland Park- They have a focus group which will be evaluating the long term feasibility of the elephant program. But with 0.1 African and 0.2 Asian, they technically meet the new guidelines.

Miami Metro- The Asian and African elephants are housed separately. So they are fine with their Asians, 1.2 is a acceptable grouping. But they will need to source an additional animal for the African exhibit.

Sedgwick County- Has recently presented a down-sized version of their new elephant enclosure plan to city council. I'm unsure of the outcome. But their director is on the board of the NEC and he has said that sending the girls there until the exhibit is constructed would be a feasible option.

Fresno- Is sending away its two Asian elephants (probably to San Diego Zoo) in favor of a breeding African elephant herd. With an enclosure opening 2014.

Seneca park- Expanded its exhibit last year to accommodate a third elephant (potentially a bull)

Honolulu- Is bringing in a bull if its final attempts to AI Vagai fail.

Santa Barbara/El Paso/Point Defiance- have all voiced interest in bringing in Indian Rhinoceros once one of their two elephants die.

Milwaukee-The zoo has presented plans for an elephant expansion

I believe Six flags marine world is just an affiliate of the AZA, so they won't face repercussion following 2016. However it would be logical for their lone female African-Valerie- to be sent to a zoo requiring a third elephant.




@Thylacinealive Shanthi (Kandula's mother) is Sri Lankan as well. She is currently being AI'd, and Bozie (the female from Baton Rouge) is a definite breeding candidate. So I would consider them to be currently breeding.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top