Also, with only two elephants the zoo has until September 2016 to obtain a third elephant to join their "herd". The best case for all concerned, especially considering Buffalo's frigid winters and the size of the enclosure, is for the zoo to send its elephants away to another AZA-accredited institution.
I am completely for sending them somewhere else if they can do it without separating them or putting stress on them. The zoo did minor improvements to the barn to make it adequate for their three elephants at the time. I'm hoping those "standards" are no longer the approved requirements of 2016 as I think adding another elephant to that small exhibit is not good. It's sad to see the fate of this zoo because I think they are in severe danger of losing their accreditation if they don't remodel their polar bear exhibit and elephant exhibit.
The Buffalo Zoo simply does not have the space to properly renovate its elephant facility to the standard it needs to be.There most recent renovation is just a desparate attempt to try to satisfy the AZA.If they were to have moved their two elephants then and focused their efforts on the new entrance/Polar bear exhibit they would be in much better shape.
@team tapir - I agree! Once the polar bear exhibit is underway, there is no way for the elephant exhibit to expand. Actually the Arctic exhibit could be bigger in size if they got rid of the elephant exhibit all together. But I have a feeling they will try to hold on the elephants as long as possible.
@blospz Despite us not agreeing with their decision there is no way they would have spent any money on renovating the barn if they thought they would be moving the elephants several years later.Its just not smart on their part.
@blospz Do you have any info on the status of the polar bear project?We saw they just sent several species of bears to Utah.Hopefully things start coming together on this.
