North American Asian and African Elephant Populations: Discussion and Speculation

Corangurilla said:
No, no, no... say it ain't so...
My worst fear for Phoenix came true right under my nose and I'm just finding out...
A year without seeing elephants might happen and I don't want that to happen...

That's what I'm saying! Giants of the Asian Realm is only three years old and has way too much elephant-specific stuff for Phoenix to just throw it all away. If they have a model of an elephant's butt (complete with dung), I'd say that they're in too deep to back out.
Mystery construction behind Giants of the Asian Realm (Taken January 9, 2022)

Mystery construction behind Giants of the Asian Realm (Taken January 9, 2022)

  • Media owner Corangurilla
  • Date added
  • Comments 5
Please forgive the quality. Something I noticed behind the zoo's expanded elephant exhibit...
Plus, I spied this construction behind the elephant exhibit this year, complete with a cutout of a bull Asian elephant (which doesn't confirm the Bachelor theory, but does add more fuel to it). If Phoenix is "phasing out" elephants, it'll be a temporary phaseout like @StoppableSan said.
I'm sorry if this post comes across as a little dramatic. The thought of an elephant-less Phoenix Zoo actually makes me nervous to the point of losing sleep and having nightmares about the zoo publicly euthanizing Indu ala Marius the giraffe. I was also under the impression that Chutti was only there until a suitable female was found for him.
(Aaaand I'm already in the "denial" stage of grief)
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Well. I have known the manager personally for several years. She has not mentioned to me about adding any elephants. But again it is up to the upper management to decide.

My contact did talk about them having a bachelor herd but that’s years before the girls started passing away. Priorities do change.
 
ZCChip said:
Well. I have known the manager personally for several years. She has not mentioned to me about adding any elephants. But again it is up to the upper management to decide.

My contact did talk about them having a bachelor herd but that’s years before the girls started passing away. Priorities do change.
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Don’t let me down, upper management….
 
ZCChip said:
Well. I have known the manager personally for several years. She has not mentioned to me about adding any elephants. But again it is up to the upper management to decide.

My contact did talk about them having a bachelor herd but that’s years before the girls started passing away. Priorities do change.
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The facility can still easily be used for Indian Rhinos.

I'm assuming if ZCChip got this info from a manager, then it's highly credible. Even as a manager she should have some understanding of the upper managements decisions, so if she didn't mention elephants returning, I don't think it's likely they will.
 
I was speaking to friend who is well connected in the elephant world recently and she was telling me in about 5 years or so there is going to only be about 8-10 facilities (AZA or affiliated) that are going to house Asians (not including the sanctuaries). She also said Phoenix was on its way out of elephants
 
PSO said:
I was speaking to friend who is well connected in the elephant world recently and she was telling me in about 5 years or so there is going to only be about 8-10 facilities (AZA or affiliated) that are going to house Asians (not including the sanctuaries). She also said Phoenix was on its way out of elephants
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Oh well. It’s been a good run. AZ isn’t really a good place for Asian Elephants, anyways (I think).
Guess I’ll have to make annual trips to Reid Park a thing now (and I haven’t been there in ages).
I wonder which facilities will be the lucky few to display Asian Elephants? I’m pretty sure the Oklahoma, Ohio and Texas facilities (sans San Antonio) are some of them.
 
My guess for zoos which will still have Asian elephants is:
  1. African Lion Safari
  2. LA
  3. Denver
  4. Smithsonian
  5. Busch Gardens
  6. Saint Louis
  7. Albuquerque
  8. Rosamond Gifford
  9. Columbus
  10. Cincinnati
  11. Oklahoma
  12. Oregon
  13. Fort Worth
  14. Houston
 
ZooElephantsMan said:
My guess for zoos which will still have Asian elephants is:
  1. African Lion Safari
  2. LA
  3. Denver
  4. Smithsonian
  5. Busch Gardens
  6. Saint Louis
  7. Albuquerque
  8. Rosamond Gifford
  9. Columbus
  10. Cincinnati
  11. Oklahoma
  12. Oregon
  13. Fort Worth
  14. Houston
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Tulsa is building what could be the Asian Elephant exhibit to end em all, so I’d add them (and maybe sub out Busch Gardens).
 
PSO said:
Tulsa will definitely be having them. Big news will come when the get closer to finishing the exhibit.
LA, Oregon, ALS and Cincy are by no means guaranteed.
Busch has been wanting to phase out for a while now.
White Oak is one that will have them for a while.
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All of which either have relatively new facilities, are building massive new facilities for, or have a fantastic track record breedingwise. LA's probably going to remain a holder of geriatric elephants, ALS has that track record, and as for Oregon and Cincy, given the amount of investment they put into elephants, I doubt they'll go out of them anytime soon.
 
My guess for zoos that will still have Asian elephants is:
  • Saint Louis
  • Fort Worth
  • Houston
  • Cincinnati
  • Oklahoma
  • Denver
  • African Lion Safari
  • Rosamond Gifford
  • White Oak Conservation
  • Columbus
  • LA
  • Oregon
  • Tulsa
PSO said:
Tulsa will definitely be having them. Big news will come when the get closer to finishing the exhibit.
LA, Oregon, ALS and Cincy are by no means guaranteed.
Busch has been wanting to phase out for a while now.
White Oak is one that will have them for a while.
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Cincinnati is importing four new elephants mother-daughter pair Yasmin and Anak, and their two sons it makes zero sense for Cincy not to have elephants, and the fact that their building a massive new facility proves that they're committed to elephant's long-term, ALS has the most successful breeding program in recent years (Apart from Houston), LA and Oregon who already have new facilities LA will most likely still house geriatric elephants, and Oregon is still actively trying to breed Rose-Tu and Samson.
 
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Mr.Ivory said:
My guess for zoos that will still have Asian elephants is:
  • Saint Louis
  • Fort Worth
  • Houston
  • Cincinnati
  • Oklahoma
  • Denver
  • African Lion Safari
  • Rosamond Gifford
  • White Oak Conservation
  • Columbus
  • LA
  • Oregon
  • Tulsa
Cincinnati is importing four new elephants mother-daughter pair Yasmin and Anak, and their two sons it makes zero sense for Cincy not to have elephants, and the fact that their building a massive new facility proves that their committed elephants long-term, ALS has the most successful breeding program in recent years (Apart from Houston), LA and Oregon who already have new facilities LA will most likely still house geriatric elephants, and Oregon is still actively trying to breed Rose-Tu and Samson.
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National's also importing Trong Nhi and Nhi Linh from Rotterdam, who are reported to be pregnant as well. They've gone all in on elephants, phasing out giraffe, nile hippo, pygmy hippo and capybara in the process.
 
StoppableSan said:
National's also importing Trong Nhi and Nhi Linh from Rotterdam, who are reported to be pregnant as well. They've gone all in on elephants, phasing out giraffe, nile hippo, pygmy hippo and capybara in the process.
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Indeed they are and they as well are still trying to have a calf with Spike and Maharani, they are committed to elephants long term. Perhaps Miami and Albuquerque as well but its not guaranteed.
 
PSO said:
Tulsa will definitely be having them. Big news will come when the get closer to finishing the exhibit.
LA, Oregon, ALS and Cincy are by no means guaranteed.
Busch has been wanting to phase out for a while now.
White Oak is one that will have them for a while.
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So what'll Busch do with their current elephant habitat?
 
Mr.Ivory said:
Indeed they are and they as well are still trying to have a calf with Spike and Maharani, they are committed to elephants long term. Perhaps Miami and Albuquerque as well but its not guaranteed.
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Miami did import Ongard from Melbourne, which is indicative of wanting to continue with elephants. As for ABQ, they've been hit HARD with the deaths of Thorn and Jazmine, but are still very much willing to work with elephants.
 
Until Cincy breaks ground I'm not holding my breath (i.e. Polar bears)
ALS hinges on what bills get passed and what happens when Charlie Gray retires (Ft Worth wasn't the only facility that potentially was getting ALS elephants)
Money means nothing when it comes to phasing out elephants. As discussed above Phoenix just put money into their's and Calgary is another example. My friend didn't have confidence in both zoos (LA and Oregon) longterm which is a shame
Miami is almost a guaranteed phase out
 
PSO said:
Until Cincy breaks ground I'm not holding my breath (i.e. Polar bears)
ALS hinges on what bills get passed and what happens when Charlie Gray retires (Ft Worth wasn't the only facility that potentially was getting ALS elephants)
Money means nothing when it comes to phasing out elephants. As discussed above Phoenix just put money into their's and Calgary is another example. My friend didn't have confidence in both zoos (LA and Oregon) longterm which is a shame
Miami is almost a guaranteed phase out
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Cincy has broken ground for months now, Oregon, Miami, and LA is a shame to hear as Oregon and La have great facilities and LA is planning on expanding their current enclosure further as stated in their master plan.
 
PSO said:
Until Cincy breaks ground I'm not holding my breath (i.e. Polar bears)
ALS hinges on what bills get passed and what happens when Charlie Gray retires (Ft Worth wasn't the only facility that potentially was getting ALS elephants)
Money means nothing when it comes to phasing out elephants. As discussed above Phoenix just put money into their's and Calgary is another example. My friend didn't have confidence in both zoos (LA and Oregon) longterm which is a shame
Miami is almost a guaranteed phase out
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Out of curiosity which other facilities had you heard of potentially receiving ALS elephants? Tulsa certainly seems likely, same with Smithsonian, LA, Miami, Columbus, and Denver.
 
PSO said:
Until Cincy breaks ground I'm not holding my breath (i.e. Polar bears)
ALS hinges on what bills get passed and what happens when Charlie Gray retires (Ft Worth wasn't the only facility that potentially was getting ALS elephants)
Money means nothing when it comes to phasing out elephants. As discussed above Phoenix just put money into their's and Calgary is another example. My friend didn't have confidence in both zoos (LA and Oregon) longterm which is a shame
Miami is almost a guaranteed phase out
Click to expand...
I do doubt Miami'd phase out elephants given the time it took to import Ongard and also given the fact that they have the space and the budget to even house both species.
 
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