As extraordinary as it sounds, it seems as if there is no pool in the 4-acre complex! I copied and pasted the information below from the zoo's official press release about the new exhibit in 2011:
Features of the new exhibit include:
• An Elephant Overlook to allow visitors and families the opportunity to pause and spend time observing the elephants or watch an engaging elephant demonstration at a shaded overlook and seating area just off the existing boardwalk trail
• 10,000+ square foot barn (Pachyderm Pavilion)
• Four-acre naturalized habitat
• Three additional outdoor exercise enclosures
• Misters and sand wallows
• Oversized shade structures
• Giant scratching post
• World-class technology, allowing for the safe housing and handling of the elephants
• A private maternity ward with separate breeding and calving rooms
I was looking through my blog and thought it was very strange. Can anyone think of another elephant exhibit built recently without a pool. Asian elephants love there water so not even having a small one is wierd. I think Aza should require a pool in evry elephant exhibit.
I just saw this exhibit yesterday and I noticed the lack of pool as well! It is a very spacious paddock for them and I'm surprised how well preserved the grass is still. The picture above of the old bull exhibit is no longer in use. They use that area for animal encounter shows now. I saw Indy...unless they got that new bull already...yesterday. He was in a small section, actually smaller than that, but it's near the main one and other holding areas so he could have trunk contact with the females. I'm curious if they give him access to the main yard sometimes.
I just visited the zoo last week and loved this exhibit. The outdoor yard is so huge and the elephants including the bull were all on exhibit together. I hate to see bull elephants shoved in small exhibits all alone. He was very close with two of the females. My guess is that the zoo is trying to breed them. Later in the day I overheard a keeper talking about the zoos future plans. She said the zoo would love to add a pool to this exhibit as originally planned. This may include an overall expansion of this habitat. She also said that the zoo was interested in acquiring giraffe. I didn't see much flat land at the zoo, unless they use the former elephant exhibit.
I just visited the zoo last week and loved this exhibit. The outdoor yard is so huge and the elephants including the bull were all on exhibit together. I hate to see bull elephants shoved in small exhibits all alone. He was very close with two of the females. My guess is that the zoo is trying to breed them. Later in the day I overheard a keeper talking about the zoos future plans. She said the zoo would love to add a pool to this exhibit as originally planned. This may include an overall expansion of this habitat. She also said that the zoo was interested in acquiring giraffe. I didn't see much flat land at the zoo, unless they use the former elephant exhibit.
- What I heard has now been confirmed. The zoo will add a new yard across the boardwalk for the elephants. They will also build a demonstration area attached to the barn. A large pool will be added inside of this yard.
Essentially the master plans shows what appears to be the zoo dividing the white lipped deer exhibit in half giving the elephants the left side to connect with the current yard
