no, tusko isn't a pygmy elephant, sources aren't sure on his place of birth but they claim it is most likely Thailand, he is over 13,000 pounds and is 10 feet tall.
A long time ago I think Okapikpr said that the Asian Elephant SSP is considering all Asian Elephants as one and not different subspecies. I guess this means that they consider Chendra a regular Asian Elephant, thus allowing her to breed with Tusko. I'm not sure if this is correct since it was a long time ago...
Edit: It turned out it was Ituri that mentioned it in the other thread that Dallaspachyderm rediscovered.
The Oregon Zoo already has the money ($120 million bond) for many improvements, including a proposed 6-acre exhibit that will be the largest of its kind for Asian elephants in North America.
Yes, she is indeed 3,500 pounds and he is 13,500... So he weighs five tons more. Couldn't she be injured? I would think AI from another Borneo Pygmy elephant in Sabah would be her best bet. Because there are two breeding males (27 and 13) at the Sabah Zoological gardens, along with two maturing bulls (8 and 9)
It is interesting seeing this photo from almost 15 years in the future from when it was posted. It is an artifact of zoo history now with everything seen in this exhibit (except the elephants) bulldozed and replaced with a much better elephant complex.
