Great elephant blog by ZooChat's gorgeousingray

[DavidBrown]

Hi.

I was hunting around the web for some zoo elephant info and came across this blog by our fellow ZooChatter gorgeousingray. It is very informative about North American zoo elephants and very well done. Good job gorgeousingray.

Jackson B. gorgeousingray

 

[snowleopard]

It is definitely a very informative site, and on it there is a long list of zoos that need to sort out what their future plans are for their elephants. Having only 2 females isn't going to be enough to be AZA-accredited after 2016.

 

[gorgeousingray]

thanks for the endorsement

Snowleopard, yes, it's going to be very interesting to see how many of these zoos will be able to expand and meet standards, or have to shut down their exhibits. We should know more about how things are going to hash out very soon, as zoos wishing to keep their elephants begin fundraising for facilities to accommodate more animals.

Post today, on the San Diego/Tucson transfers

The swap. gorgeousingray

 

[elefante]

This is interesting. So San Diego mixes the two species? Isn't that unhealthy? I thought I had read they can pass diseases on to each other.

 

[DavidBrown]

This is interesting. So San Diego mixes the two species? Isn't that unhealthy? I thought I had read they can pass diseases on to each other.

San Diego has two African eles in with the Asians at the zoo because these elephants have been with the Asians for decades and it is judged to be cruel to split them up. All of the elephants at the zoo are older non-breeding animals.

The herd at the Safari Park is a breeding herd of African elephants.

 

[gorgeousingray]

I've heard many people who felt as if San Diego arranged the move for Connie AND Shaba to please the general public. And as soon as the two are integrated with their own species they will be separated. I don't personally see how this is possible since the enclosure is only 1.5 acres. So two separate herd wouldn't be logical.

As morbid as it sounds, the only way Reid Park and San Diego can escape public scrutiny is if Connie passes away...