Elephant Expansion

Last Spring two of these large banners appeared on zoo grounds promoting our planned elephant expansion. Although groundbreaking was tentatively planned for this Fall (2009), a slowdown in fundraising has pushed it back to "early next year." When it does happen, I will post pics and construction updates.

Tonight (Sept 13, 2009) at the annual member's meeting and ice cream social, the board president said we hope to have an official groundbreaking this January (2010). I have heard rumors from other staff that all of the money has now been raised (or at least promised by donors).

We are working closely with Jeff Andrews of the San Diego Wild Animal Park (and Zoo?) who wants to establish a family group of african elephants in Tucson. The initial plans I saw a while ago stated our exhibit will have room for up to 6 elephants, including 1 bull.

I just found an online brief from the design firm that drew up the plans for the elephant expansion. Not a lot of details, but a few tidbits and a nice conceptual drawing (photo 3 of 3 - you will have to scroll through the thumbnails to get to it). Here's the link: Reid Park Zoo

Blackduiker

The plans look very nice indeed. I'm glad to see zoos not backing down, and continuing their plans to expand their Elephant habitats.

Well, the banner is now gone, since Fall 2009 has come and gone and still no groundbreaking. It will also not happen this month (January 2010) as recently reported. The exhibit is being funded half by the zoological society ($6.25 million) and half by the city ($6.25 million). The zoological society has raised their part, but apparently the city part was going to come from a bond election to be held in November 2009. That bond issue was put off until November 2010. So that means groundbreaking will not happen until late 2010, or according to a zoo insider, January 2011 in the worst case scenario.

I did learn that San Diego Wild Animal Park has virtually guaranteed us a pair of females with their soon-to-be-born calves, which means we will have some near-baby elephants in Tucson. YES!!!

They are going to separate young females from their Mothers? Females stay together for life in the wild. So sad.

No, the two females are the mothers (to be) and the young ones will be their offspring who stay with them - all coming together. I estimate the babies, not yet born, will be around two to three years old when they arrive here.

Thanks for the clarification.

Will the Asian elephant remain at the zoo and be integrated into the herd?

Well, the beginning (and the end) are finally in sight. Here is an exciting quote from the new summer zoo magazine:

"Construction is expected to begin in the late summer of 2010, with an anticipated opening of Expedition Tanzania in the fall of 2011. Through a partnership with the San Diego Zoological Society, the exhibit will open with additional elephants and their offspring."

As for what will happen to our lone asian elephant, the answer we got at a recent docent meeting is no one knows right now. She could stay to live out her life with the africans or she could go to join an all asian herd elsewhere. (Some docents I spoke with want her to stay because they love "our Connie" but personally I would rather see her go to maintain the integrity of the Tanzania theme).