I personally think this is ridiculous, the ankus, when used properly is just an extension of the keepers arm. I know it has been misused in the past but I'd think the quality of the keepers working at this facility would generally use it properly. I think your right, the whole facility may need to be redesigned for protected contact. It is also a disadvantage for new calves that may need to go to other zoos in the future.
The National elephant center
- Thread starter kiang
- Start date
I personally think this is ridiculous, the ankus, when used properly is just an extension of the keepers arm. I know it has been misused in the past but I'd think the quality of the keepers working at this facility would generally use it properly. I think your right, the whole facility may need to be redesigned for protected contact. It is also a disadvantage for new calves that may need to go to other zoos in the future.
Very well said - I agree (even though my zoo does not use them).
Zooplantman
Well-Known Member
National Elephant Center Update
Elephant Center chooses builder, might start construction in 2 months in Fellsmere
Elephant Center chooses builder, might start construction in 2 months in Fellsmere
Can somebody who knows the AZA elephant program please explain what exactly is being built in terms of National Elephant Centers or whatever they are calling them? Is the one in Pittsburgh associated with the one in Florida? Also, apparently the Oregon Zoo is going to build a large offsite facility...is this intended to be a West Coast version of what is being built in Florida and Pittsburgh, or are all these facilities unrelated? Any clarification greatly appreciated.
Many zoos have their own off-site breeding centers (i.e. Cincinnati, National, Pittsburgh, Oregon, Audubon). That's all these places are.
The National Elephant Center, however, is being built from funds collected by various zoos interested in the long-term well-being of elephants in North America. Many of the zoos involved with this project do not have the resources to build their own off-site facility for elephants. This consortium is unique amongst captive breeding programs - while some have existed in the past, none have built a facility just for one taxa. And only one other consortium has built a facility - that being the Wilds in Ohio. It was built to become the off-site breeding center for the state's various zoos and has planned to house multiple taxa.
All of these facilities, while associated with and often accredited by the AZA, are not products of the AZA's various captive breeding programs. The National Elephant Center is not operated by the Elephant TAG or SSP, but it is managed by a consortium of zoos independent from the AZA.
The National Elephant Center, however, is being built from funds collected by various zoos interested in the long-term well-being of elephants in North America. Many of the zoos involved with this project do not have the resources to build their own off-site facility for elephants. This consortium is unique amongst captive breeding programs - while some have existed in the past, none have built a facility just for one taxa. And only one other consortium has built a facility - that being the Wilds in Ohio. It was built to become the off-site breeding center for the state's various zoos and has planned to house multiple taxa.
All of these facilities, while associated with and often accredited by the AZA, are not products of the AZA's various captive breeding programs. The National Elephant Center is not operated by the Elephant TAG or SSP, but it is managed by a consortium of zoos independent from the AZA.
Thanks Gerenuk, that explains things well. For some reason I thought that Pittsburgh had been designated as the national elephant facility.
Update: Pittsburgh is rather grandly hyping their facility as the "International Conservation Center" and as the only AZA recognized elephant sanctuary (http://internationalconservationcenter.org/). That hype is probably what confused me.
Update: Pittsburgh is rather grandly hyping their facility as the "International Conservation Center" and as the only AZA recognized elephant sanctuary (http://internationalconservationcenter.org/). That hype is probably what confused me.
uszoo
Well-Known Member
- The national elephant center has begun construction and is due to be finished with phase 1 in january. The first phase in 1 barn and 3 paddocks and will take up a quarter of the site. They also have a new website.
October Construction Progress The National Elephant Center
October Construction Progress The National Elephant Center
Interesting that an authority on elephants like this place still maintains that there are only two species of elephants, when the prevailing view nowadays (as far as I know) is that there are three.
Learn The National Elephant Center
Learn The National Elephant Center
While we all have our opinions, and I certainly agree that there are 3 species. You shouldn't necessarily consider three elephant species the prevailing view, when the IUCN still doesn't recognize 3 seperate species.
Loxodonta africana (African Elephant)
Something like this is needed especially since it seems Birmingham has been the only zoo to commit to the Bull Herd Concept.
Does anyone keep forest elephant though? In their defense they may be referring to the two species they plan to keep.
I don't think there are any zoos or compounds in North America with African Forest Elephants (there have been in the past). That particular elephant species hasn't done well in captivity and there are only a few (wild born) elephants still left in captivity.
African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis)
Not sure when this was written but it may help.
I don't think that African forest elephants would fare any worse in captivity as opposed to the other two species by today's standards. All three didn't do well 'back in the day.'
The current captive stock consists of:
1.1 Yamaguchi Safari land
0.1 Hiroshima zoological gardens
and
1.0 Abidjan zoo
The three in Japan originated in Burkina Faso, while the male in the Ivory coast was captive bred. All four are relatively young animals, and I would love there to be a collaborative effort to breed them.
The current captive stock consists of:
1.1 Yamaguchi Safari land
0.1 Hiroshima zoological gardens
and
1.0 Abidjan zoo
The three in Japan originated in Burkina Faso, while the male in the Ivory coast was captive bred. All four are relatively young animals, and I would love there to be a collaborative effort to breed them.
I would love for African Forest Elephants to be breed in captivity aswell but it's not treated as a seperate species many times and if we can't even cooperate enough to breed Sumatran Elephants (which is a recognized subspecies of Asian Elephant) in captivity, then forest elephants may not have a great chance. I would love to see them return to the U.S., though. They would look great in the Congo Gorilla Forest (assuming the expanded it to make room for elephants) at the Bronx Zoo.
You may be right about the capabilities to take care of them today. I find this a very good argument about breeding Javan Rhinos in captivity (although with such low numbers now and the limited results for Sumatran Rhinos this may not be such a great idea (but aren't they getting better results since Cincinnati took up the cause with like 4 or 5 babies there and in Sumatra)).