Zoo elephants have begun packing their trunks

By Lauren McGlone
Senior Staff Writer
March 21, 2007

With the arrival of the spring season, thousands of people take advantage of the opportune weather to visit the Philadelphia Zoo. This spring, however, as Philadelphians flock to America’s first zoo, certain mammals will be leaving their long-time home.

The zoo announced in the fall that its four elephants will be moved to better, more efficient environments that will adequately meet their needs. The 42-year-old Asian elephant Dulary will find a new home in Tennessee at the Elephant Sanctuary. Dulary is expected to make her move sometime in April. Trainers have been working with Dulary to ensure she is prepared for her upcoming move.

The zoo’s other three pachyderms, African elephants Petal, Kallie and Bette were supposed to move to the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. However, the Maryland Zoo announced Tuesday, March 20 that it is pushing back its timetable to expand its current elephant exhibit. The zoo had originally planned to add space to its exhibit to create an elephant savanna, but due to construction constraints, have decided to delay the expansion. The zoo has already begun to consider new options for Petal, Kallie and Bette and is working with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to find suitable homes for these elephants.

Bill Grieb, president of The Maryland Zoo, told reporters it’s a problem with the timing of the zoo’s exhibit.

“Unfortunately, as is often the case with construction projects, our timetable has slipped and our exhibit would not be ready to take the elephants this spring as we had planned,” Grieb said.

Previous fundraising efforts by the Philadelphia Zoo to keep the elephants in the City of Brotherly Love fell short, and the difficult decision was made to transport the large mammals. Short-term renovations to the Philadelphia exhibit were no longer deemed acceptable for the elephants to reside, and costs rose too high to refurbish the living environments. The health and safety of the four elephants were the most important factors in deciding if, when and where they would be moved.

According to the zoo Web site, “elephants are amazing animals whose size, appearance, intelligence and role as an ‘umbrella’ species make them particularly compelling and inspirational.” By protecting an umbrella species, conservationists can simultaneously aid many other species that live in the same habitat.

There are certain differences between African and Asian elephants, besides their areas of origin, one being that the ears of African elephants are much larger than those of the Asian elephants. The complexity of the elephants is one defining feature that receives much attention. Exchange among the individuals is communicated through infrasound vocalizations, unable to be heard by the human ear. Full time nutritionists, veterinarians and keepers assure that each elephant receives the proper care and nourishment during its residence at the zoo, to help the mammals reach and go beyond life expectancy (mid-40s).

To celebrate the elephants’ last weeks in Philadelphia, the zoo is hosting Elephun Days March 24, 25, 31 and April 1, raising awareness about the important effects of saving these large mammals in other parts of the world. Other events and activities include signing farewell cards and making donations to worldwide conservation, both of which may be accessed by the Philadelphia Zoo’s Web site: http://www.philadelphiazoo.org/index.php

mcglonel1@lasalle.edu