Where did the Giraffes go? What is the zoo building now? These are a few of the things zoo guests have been asking when they stretch to look over the construction fence next to the McNair Asian Elephant Habitat. Well, the giraffes have moved to the new African Forest and the zoo is building a new elephant exhibit.
new yard under construction
It may seem like the zoo just built an exhibit and you are right, we did. But, as our herd continues to grow and we try to emulate the wild by creating small family groups, our need for space is also growing. The elephant expansion will be a great new addition to the elephant program. The expansion is just over an acre in size and contains multiple elevated feeders, scratching stumps, several live trees, rocks, and a new pool.
The new pool
The new pool is roughly 80,000 gallons of filtered and sanitized water with large tiered steps to accommodate all of the elephants whether they want to wade in the shallows or submerge in the deep end. All of the elephants will enjoy the pool, but none more than Tucker, Baylor, and Tupelo. The expansion will also feature an area where our elephant caregivers can conduct up close and personal training and husbandry sessions with the elephants. These sessions will provide a much more intimate atmosphere for zoo guests to interact with the elephant care team and hopefully gain a greater appreciation for the magnificence of elephants. This area has rocks and logs which the elephants can walk on to show off their nimbleness and balance. There is also a log pile where the elephants can demonstrate the ways of their ancestors which were used as beasts of burden for thousands of years. Lastly, the expansion area means more space and more options.
Tucker checking out the new digs
As Tucker matures into a solitary bull elephant, he will reap the benefits of having a yard all to himself just like our adult male Thailand. The new yard gives zookeepers a lot more flexibility as to where the elephants spend their days and nights. Zookeepers can rotate which elephants live in each exhibit on a daily basis. This ability to move and shift elephants will provide them with different enrichment opportunities and make them eager to explore.
Written by: Daryl Hoffman, Houston Zoo Large Mammal Curator
Another view of the expansion
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