Zoos that got rid of elephants and later brought them back
- Thread starter HTZ
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Sapporo Maruyama zoo comes to mind
Brookfield was actually planning to renovate their elephant habitat years before they went out of the species (Strahl described the plans as "seven years away" in 2006) and was intended to follow Great Bear Wilderness and a "new children's zoo" ; a few years after that the facility was running out of money and being threatened with multiple tax hikes, which probably contributed to elephants leaving the zoo, as well as the losses of hippopotamus, congo buffalo and warthog around the same timeframe. The new children's zoo was considerably drawn back into Wild Encounters, which was the last project under Strahl.
I'm not sure the current administration position yet so it could very well be off the table now, but Brookfield spent over a decade essentially limping through projects already scheduled to come before the elephant renovation, which I think is part of why they maintained their intent to bring them back for so long.
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
Four zoos that come to mind that phased out elephants then brought them back a few years later are Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo (no elephants from 2011-2016), Birmingham Zoo (2007-2011), Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo (1993-2003), and Lincoln Park Zoo (2000-2003). Lincoln Park however, has since gotten rid of elephants once again.
The panelists at Brookfield's master plan symposium said that while they couldn't make any guarantees elephantwise, they do have an idea as to how to bring them back in a dynamic way - having visited National Zoo and being thoroughly impressed with Elephant Trails. @pachyderm pro can give a more definitive answer than I can.
Oklahoma City Zoo sent their elephants to Tulsa temporarily when they were building their new elephant habitat, so there was a period of time when there were no elephants at OKC.
San Antonio has been adamant that elephants will return after they complete their gorilla project in 2025.
Reid Park had a very brief period where they swapped Connie and Shaba for some of San Diego Zoo Safari Park's elephants when that matriline naturally split up.
Nashville has shown intent for bringing elephants back, the main issue being the availability of elephants.
You summed it up nicely. The panelists suggested that the zoo does in fact have a concept in mind for a future elephant complex that will be shown when the master plan is released, although do keep in mind this was last Summer and things could've changed since then. Barring any further delays, we'll finally have a definitive answer on this age old question within the next two months.
Cleveland Zoo sent their elephants to the Columbus Zoo while they built a new elephant area, so that doesn't really count as "going out of elephants" because it was a temporary move with a known return date.
Rio de Janeiro had a brief period with no elephants between Nely's death, in 1989, and Koala's arrival, in 1990. The former had come from India in 1949.
Koala is still alive, though by herself. I believe she might pass away somewhat soon, as she has reached sixty this year.
Koala is still alive, though by herself. I believe she might pass away somewhat soon, as she has reached sixty this year.
Cleveland had a brief period in the 1990s when there were no elephants at the zoo, then again in 2008-2011 when the pachyderm building was rebuilt into elephant crossing.
Australian zoos:
Monarto Safari Park are currently constructing a 12ha habitat for elephants. They previously held an elephant named Samorn from 1991-1994, but have not held them in the 30 years since her death. This will change next week with the import of Burma from Auckland Zoo; with a further 1.3 elephants to follow next year.
Australia Zoo transferred out their remaining elephant (Sabu) in 2013, following the deaths of her companions. They were without elephants for six years until the import of 0.4 Sumatran elephants in 2019.
Monarto Safari Park are currently constructing a 12ha habitat for elephants. They previously held an elephant named Samorn from 1991-1994, but have not held them in the 30 years since her death. This will change next week with the import of Burma from Auckland Zoo; with a further 1.3 elephants to follow next year.
Australia Zoo transferred out their remaining elephant (Sabu) in 2013, following the deaths of her companions. They were without elephants for six years until the import of 0.4 Sumatran elephants in 2019.
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
Ostrava Zoo in the Czech Republic is another zoo which notably had a period of having no elephants, which was for over a decade (1991-2004) before bringing them back and they have had them ever since.