@snowleopard I visited the zoo quite often for nearly a year - visits on days that brought unbearable cold. Only once did I ever see the elephants inside, and that was for a medical examination. After measuring the barn online, the square footage came out to be 20,000 square feet. After further research, the zoo's website confirms that it is in fact 20,000 square feet.
@snowleopard The elephant care center is listed as being around 20,000 square feet on the zoos website, though the main day room I remember being only around 5,000 square feet. However parts of the main yard are heated so even in the winter the animals will be allowed access to the outdoors.
That is very interesting @Moebelle , as I would have guessed that the zoo's elephants would have hung around indoors during inclement weather. It is great news if they are brave enough to venture outside even during winter.
@snowleopard I believe that once the temperature drops below a specific temp they are no longer allowed out. They do however keep the barns much cooler so that when they do let them out there isn't a temperature shock. That was with the old barn, I am not sure what the new barn if they will keep it in the temperature cool for the winter months or not again. Time will tell.
