In another month or so, the Birmingham Zoo should once again hear the pitter-patter of elephants' feet.
Or probably something much louder.
Construction is winding down on the zoo's $12.5 million Trails of Africa exhibit, which is tentatively scheduled to open around spring break of 2011. Some features are already visible to visitors, such as a simulated weathered stone walkway which will snake through the exhibit. Those peering near a temporary fence may also see the new Safari Cafe, which will offer a view of the exhibit's simulated savannah.
Trails of Africa aims to create environments for elephants, giraffes, zebras, hippos and ostriches to roam in areas similar to their native habitats. In addition, interactive exhibits are planned to get visitors closer to the animals, as well as the cafe, which will offer a mealtime view of the beasts. Hoar Construction of Birmingham is working on the project.
Building is about 90 percent complete, said Katrina Cade, the zoo's vice president of marketing. Workers are putting the finishing touches on the elephants' night quarters, a housing facility with chutes to lead the animals to and from the exhibit. Workers tested the pumps this week on the exhibit's simulated waterfall and watering hole.
Over the next month, landscaping and some of the finishing touches for the exhibit should be added.
"We've been talking about this for three years," Zoo CEO Bill Foster said. "It's exciting to see it finally taking shape."
But it will be several months before visitors get a look at the new addition. Zoo workers will be spending that time on the more sensitive part of the exhibit -- the animals which will live there.
Foster said he wants to have all the exhibit's new animals at the zoo by year's end. The zoo just added an 18-month-old giraffe from the Springfield, Mo., zoo to its animal population. Foster said the zoo is also working to bring a third rhinoceros from Florida and two more giraffes.
Moving elephants
Logistics are being worked out for bringing in the exhibit's centerpiece -- three male elephants. Over the next three months, the zoo will transport:
>> A 10-year-old elephant from the Indianapolis Zoo.
>> A 10-year-old from the Pittsburgh Zoo.
>> A 29-year-old from Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando.
Moving several multi-ton animals hundreds of miles is no easy task, Foster said.
"Everything has to be planned to minimize stress," he said. "For some, this may be their first time in a vehicle."
Before the move, zoo animal keepers have to coordinate the trip, then spend time with the elephants at their present homes. They also put that time to use by learning about the animal -- his favorite foods, and certain characteristics which might indicate if the elephant is sick, sad or uncomfortable. Then, a keeper already familiar with the elephant in his former zoo home will make the trip to Birmingham, to add one more layer of familiarity and comfort for the elephant.
Foster said the zoo will also spend time letting the 29-year-old elephant "test" out the new home -- seeing if any changes need to be made to the exhibit for comfort or safety. By that time, he said, the bull's "scent" will be strong enough in the exhibit to make it comfortable for the other elephants.
A little more time will be spent making sure the elephants get along with each other, Foster said. One reason the zoo selected these particular elephants was because they are not given to struggling with other elephants.
