Oregon Zoo Oregon Zoo News 2015

Anyone go check out the elephant exhibit preview this weekend? I'd love to see some more inside photos.
 
vogelcommando said:
Bullhook-story from Oregon :
Elephant bullhook: Insurance, weapon or both?
Click to expand...

This news segment as well as the three others that go along with it place the Oregon zoo in an antagonizing manner. Although it brings light to the zoo's faults in the past, it becomes questionable on the intent of the reporter to present the information, since it seems that the report is presenting a majority of information from sources biased against zoos in general.
How much room do zoo elephants need?
Why the Oregon Zoo wants to breed elephants
The elephant in the room with Oregon Zoo bond
 
Pertaining to this series of questioning, the Oregon Zoo had mentioned an off-site elephant facility in the most recent bond for the zoo's capital projects. The zoo has slowly moved on this project because it is a long-term goal - there is no current need for the property. For some reason, a few people thought the zoo was going to remove its elephants to this property (apparently they overlooked the part of the bond that financed expanding the zoo's on-site elephant exhibit).

In "The Elephant in the Rom..." the local humane society remarked why hadn't the off-site property been developed even though the bond passed six years ago. Going on this logic, then why hasn't the rest of the zoo's projects been finished as well?

In addition, the reports are trying to hold the zoo accountable for the actions taken decades ago by other people who have since left the zoo. From my research (done many years ago) into local Portland newspaper archives, much of the zoo's elephant breeding and dispositions were reported and not kept quiet. No one made a big deal back then because:

1. No other zoo had really bred elephants before.
2. Very few really knew that much about elephant social systems.

Its good to keep this information available, because let's be honest very few people are going to do a thorough research on the zoo's history and program. But, there really is no scandal here at all. Just a handful of people that have no patience, the lack of a sense for history, and a gap in generational knowledge.
 
TZFan said:
I don't know the dates but maybe the author misunderstood and the zoo was saying the oldest male Asian elephant... or maybe the oldest elephant they are certain the birth date of.

Wait let me see if I can find an old studbook online... Yes you are right about the dates. Ambika is definitely older.

http://www.elephanttag.org/professional/2010AsianElephantStudbook.pdf
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I don't think the Author was misunderstand because I looked up the oldest Asian Elephant and Packy came up but I don't really think that's right.
 
Maybe that's what happened then. Maybe the author looked up the info online and got the same wrong info. Who knows. The studbook is very clear that Ambika is older.
 
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