I have been enormously cheered by the positive response that I have received since re-engaging with ZooChat, and while I had my 3-month sabbatical from this site I maintained contact with a number of members. Since yesterday I have even had 2 private messages from folks that I didn't even know previously, so I'm glad to be a part of a passionate zoological community. Also, the galleries of both El Paso Zoo and Utah's Hogle Zoo were underappreciated and needed to be bolstered!
In regards to this "noisemaker", I believe that it is either motion-sensored or by touch, but whatever the case may be this elephant is a massive hit with children. It trumpets and makes whooshing noises out of the hole in its trunk, and it can be heard from near and far.