North American Asian and African Elephant Populations 2025: Discussion and Speculation

Are there any mixed species exhibits with the elephants in the North America?

Occasionally I see photos of elephants in Europe in mixed species. Sevilla in Spain had some kind of antelope or deer with the bachelor herd years ago and another zoo, I cannot recall which, had some kind of monkey/ape on a rocky outcrop in the same exhibit as elephants. Maybe someone on here will know which zoo I am talking about.

As an observer, do you believe this method is enriching or too dangerous? I personally think it is a great idea as long it is safe and authentic. I know some zoos rotate animals (such as rhinos, elephants), but I am talking about mixed species in one enclosure. Which animals would get along well with the elephants if a mixed species exhibit would be proposed?
 
Last edited:
ZCChip said:
Are there any mixed species exhibits with the elephants in the North America?

Occasionally I see photos of elephants in Europe in mixed species. Sevilla in Spain had some kind of antelope or deer with the bachelor herd years ago and another zoo, I cannot recall which, had some kind of money/ape on a rocky outcrop in the same exhibit as elephants. Maybe someone on here will know which zoo I am talking about.

As an observer, do you believe this method is enriching or too dangerous? I personally think it is a great idea as long it is safe and authentic. I know some zoos rotate animals (such as rhinos, elephants), but I am talking about mixed species in one enclosure. Which animals would get along well with the elephants if a mixed species exhibit would be proposed?
Click to expand...

Doesn't Dallas Zoo's Giants of the Savanna exhibit mix African elephants with giraffe, zebra, impala and ostrich?
 
Wisp O' Mist said:
Doesn't Dallas Zoo's Giants of the Savanna exhibit mix African elephants with giraffe, zebra, impala and ostrich?
Click to expand...

They do! ZooLex Exhibit - Giants of the Savanna - Elephants and Ungulates

11.4 acres which is quite generous under zoo standards. I know the elephant herd is a non breeding herd, so they made it work quite well. I find it interesting that they put the predator habitats nearby, but the highway (I assume) is adjacent to it.

Excellent!

Any others?
 
I've seen a ton of mock-ups from masterplans with elephants being mixed, but as far as I am aware, Dallas are the only ones who do it. Brookfield is the only ones that are committed to their return with a mixed exhibit. Louisville had it on their masterplan as well, but I think that they are not doing ellies anymore. I think Birmingham's original idea was mixed, but that was scrapped.
 
toxodon said:
I've seen a ton of mock-ups from masterplans with elephants being mixed, but as far as I am aware, Dallas are the only ones who do it. Brookfield is the only ones that are committed to their return with a mixed exhibit. Louisville had it on their masterplan as well, but I think that they are not doing ellies anymore. I think Birmingham's original idea was mixed, but that was scrapped.
Click to expand...

That is a shame that zoos have mockups but scrapping it. Maybe it was too expensive, and they could not raise enough money. It would be sending an authentic message.

Maybe Louisville has different species in mind, and an Asian and African elephant together definitely would not fit in either theme.
 
ZCChip said:
Are there any mixed species exhibits with the elephants in the North America?

Occasionally I see photos of elephants in Europe in mixed species. Sevilla in Spain had some kind of antelope or deer with the bachelor herd years ago and another zoo, I cannot recall which, had some kind of monkey/ape on a rocky outcrop in the same exhibit as elephants. Maybe someone on here will know which zoo I am talking about.

As an observer, do you believe this method is enriching or too dangerous? I personally think it is a great idea as long it is safe and authentic. I know some zoos rotate animals (such as rhinos, elephants), but I am talking about mixed species in one enclosure. Which animals would get along well with the elephants if a mixed species exhibit would be proposed?
Click to expand...
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember ZooTampa mixed Elephants with gazelles. I don't know if they still do that.
 
ZCChip said:
Are there any mixed species exhibits with the elephants in the North America?

Occasionally I see photos of elephants in Europe in mixed species. Sevilla in Spain had some kind of antelope or deer with the bachelor herd years ago and another zoo, I cannot recall which, had some kind of monkey/ape on a rocky outcrop in the same exhibit as elephants. Maybe someone on here will know which zoo I am talking about.

As an observer, do you believe this method is enriching or too dangerous? I personally think it is a great idea as long it is safe and authentic. I know some zoos rotate animals (such as rhinos, elephants), but I am talking about mixed species in one enclosure. Which animals would get along well with the elephants if a mixed species exhibit would be proposed?
Click to expand...
I believe the facility you are referencing is Safaripark Beekse Bergen in the Netherlands. Their African Elephant herd lives alongside a troop of Hamadryas Baboons. The baboons stick to the rocky outcrop for the most part, but do have access to the entire exhibit. Recently, the enclosure was expanded and now includes Sitatunga and Defassa Waterbuck.

Elephant Valley | Safaripark Beekse Bergen
 
y
Jaxton said:
I believe the facility you are referencing is Safaripark Beekse Bergen in the Netherlands. Their African Elephant herd lives alongside a troop of Hamadryas Baboons. The baboons stick to the rocky outcrop for the most part, but do have access to the entire exhibit. Recently, the enclosure was expanded and now includes Sitatunga and Defassa Waterbuck.

Elephant Valley | Safaripark Beekse Bergen
Click to expand...


yes!! That’s it!!
 
Is Milwaukee planning on keeping elephants long-term after their current three pass, they are all 44 years old? I know their exhibit only just opened in 2019 and from sources I have heard can hold up to five cows, but it is a rather small exhibit (1.6 acre outdoor habitat), so it isn't really one of the better ones. If this has been rehearsed before, I'm sorry, but I don't ever recall a discussion on Milwaukee's exhibit, but I just want to know if their long-term plans have elephants or not.
 
Nile Hippo Expert said:
Is Milwaukee planning on keeping elephants long-term after their current three pass, they are all 44 years old? I know their exhibit only just opened in 2019 and from sources I have heard can hold up to five cows, but it is a rather small exhibit (1.6 acre outdoor habitat), so it isn't really one of the better ones. If this has been rehearsed before, I'm sorry, but I don't ever recall a discussion on Milwaukee's exhibit, but I just want to know if their long-term plans have elephants or not.
Click to expand...

Funny you question this. I was just thinking about this the other day in light of Brookfield going full speed ahead with bringing the iconic pachyderms back. With Milwaukee, as far as I’m aware, there are no plans to phase out elephants; they seem to still be present in the latest master plan. I can see this going one of three ways:

1. Milwaukee continues to be a “retirement facility” as they promote themselves for older/extra females and/or bulls after the current trio passes away.

2. Milwaukee becomes a bachelor facility. They’re equipped to hold at least one, and with the amount of males born recently, it would be nice to have another holder. Bonus points for a more livelier habitat! ;)

3. This may sound crazy as I’ve been fairly vocal lately about how Milwaukee’s recent phase outs have seemed excessive to me. However, I do wonder the possibilities that would open up if Milwaukee went out of elephants. Yes it would be yet another facility that goes out of the animals (as understandable as many of these cases are, this too I feel is starting to be a bit much), but allow me to explain. With no more elephants, this would allow the giraffes to move over from their current tiny paddock to a much more spacious and enriching habitat. Add in the chance to connect it with the “Impala Plains” habitat, and you’d have a pretty solid African savanna set-up! :)
 
I've been wondering what Cleveland's plans for our elephant's future is lately given our herd is all in their 40s.

Moshi (49) (1976)
Martika (44) (1981)
Kallie (43) (1982)
Shenga (44) (1982)

I know Elephant Crossing was built to handle calves so now the question becomes do we:

  1. Wait until all of our old ladies pass before completely starting over?
  2. Wait until one or two pass and try to start a smaller herd with one or two of the originals left, then expand once they pass?
 
EagleScout610 said:
I've been wondering what Cleveland's plans for our elephant's future is lately given our herd is all in their 40s.

Moshi (49) (1976)
Martika (44) (1981)
Kallie (43) (1982)
Shenga (44) (1982)

I know Elephant Crossing was built to handle calves so now the question becomes do we:

  1. Wait until all of our old ladies pass before completely starting over?
  2. Wait until one or two pass and try to start a smaller herd with one or two of the originals left, then expand once they pass?
Click to expand...
I imagine this will depend on when some of the girls pass and available reproductive cows. It's worth noting that Omaha, Sedgwick and maybe SDZP or DAK could be looking to offload cows within the next 5 or so years due to space constraints.
If they haven't lost cows by then and they have suitable space then I can absolutely see Cleveland taking on a few breeding cows in addition to their current girls. However, I feel it is equally likely that they would choose to send their remaining girls to somewhere like TES and opt to solely focus on a breeding group.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top