There are now 4 elephants at Topeka Zoo. Three of them are getting up there in years (46, 56 and 58) while the youngest of the quartet is 34 years of age. The fact that two of the elephants are Asian while two are African is almost unique in the world of American zoos, with Louisville Zoo being one other facility in the USA with both African and Asian elephants. Does anyone know of any other zoos in this category? Topeka hopes to eventually have only African elephants and to build a herd around the 34 year-old.
The plan is to turn the current yard, which is less than an acre in size, into a 3-acre complex by 2021. More information is contained on this news link, which was also posted in the Topeka Zoo forum:
The fact that two of the elephants are Asian while two are African is almost unique in the world of American zoos, with Louisville Zoo being one other facility in the USA with both African and Asian elephants.
The plan is to turn the current yard, which is less than an acre in size, into a 3-acre complex by 2021. More information is contained on this news link, which was also posted in the Topeka Zoo forum:
The San Diego Zoo has Asian and African elephants housed together.
Zoo Miami maintains separate exhibits for Asian and African elephants.
The Fresno Zoo has an Asian elephant exhibit and an African elephant exhibit as of summer 2016, but the Asian elephant exhibit will eventually be closed down when the elderly Asian elephants either die or move.
