SALT LAKE Metropolis — Officials with Utah’s Hogle Zoo declared on Tuesday a final decision to pause its steady treatment of elephants, which has spanned much more than 100 many years.
The choice to transfer Christie, 36, and her daughter Zuri, 13, to yet another Affiliation of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited zoo is so opportunities for reproduction can be maximized.
“Utah’s Hogle Zoo is progressing via an interesting and transformational arranging process to enable be certain we satisfy the changing needs of our neighborhood and the advanced requirements of animals in the zoo’s treatment. We have talked to many professionals, consultants, community customers and our workers as we diligently assessed what is greatest for all our animals, like elephants Christie and Zuri. The ultimate decision to go Christie and Zuri is to give them both of those the greatest chance to have a calf in the crucial social dynamic of a multigenerational herd,” said Utah’s Hogle Zoo CEO Doug Lund.
A century of treatment
Considerably has modified at the Hogle Zoo given that its 1st elephant, Princess Alice, arrived in 1916. Zoo officers mentioned evolving treatment tactics and investigate has helped the zoo’s experienced animal care team adapt to offer you the animals a lot more options and possibilities to be physically and emotionally engaged. The Hogle Zoo expanded and enhanced its elephant place in 2005 soon after making Elephant Face.
Zoo officers said they have worked to supply its elephants with offspring and the social dynamic gain of dwelling in a multigenerational herd. However, the 42-acre zoo would need to spend in supplemental house to convey a male elephant to Utah — a method that would just take many years. It could also most likely direct to the decline of Zuri’s prime reproductive window.
Princess Alice and Prince Utah. (Photograph courtesy: Utah’s Hogle Zoo)
Survival of the species
“The world’s African elephant population declined from 1.1 million in the 1970s to approximately 450,000 right now, with an estimated 100 elephants killed each day,” zoo officers mentioned. “Utah’s Hogle Zoo, with the guidance of the group, has funded all over the world conservation projects to secure significant habitats, make ranger stations in East Africa, and sort anti-poaching scouting teams.”
To give Chrisite and Zuri the finest prospect to have a calf and be section of a multigenerational herd, the zoo is preparing to transfer them to a further accredited zoo.
“The animal care staff will be functioning with the elephants to get ready them for voluntary, healthier transport to their new place as quickly and diligently as probable. Whilst the correct date of transfer is nonetheless to be determined, the zoo anticipates Christie and Zuri will go by this tumble,” officials explained.
“Utah’s Hogle Zoo is dedicated to creating connections involving folks and animals that inspire action to help you save elephants and other endangered species. As a committed spouse to the AZA Species Survival Plan®, we often get and transfer animals between accredited zoos for genetically varied breeding uses, like the shift of Amur leopard male, Skye, final September,” Lund stated. “Questions with regards to what species the zoo will have in the upcoming are being carefully talked over. The method is guided by what is very best for animal wellbeing, guest impression, and the most powerful way to add to saving wildlife.”
The ultimate selection to transfer Christie and Zuri is to present them the two the best prospect to have a calf throughout their primary reproductive yrs and profit from the important social dynamic of a multigenerational herd.#AfricanElephant pic.twitter.com/rKsX8JPq8P
— Utah’s Hogle Zoo (@HogleZoo) May possibly 2, 2023
The zoo is presently examining its learn program and claimed elephants could return to the zoo. It will also examine what it requirements to do to “ensure the wellbeing of elaborate species like elephants, rhinos, gorillas, polar bears, and orangutans.”
Utah’s Hogle Zoo has been AZA accredited because 1979. Less than 10% of zoos throughout the nation are AZA accredited.
“As AZA finalizes a strategy for the sustainability of elephants across AZA-accredited amenities, Utah’s Hogle Zoo is major by case in point,” stated Dan Ashe, president and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. “Although going Christie and Zuri will no doubt be tough on the team who treatment for them every day, and the higher Utah neighborhood who really like and assistance them, this selection is what is greatest for the wellbeing of these two elephants and for the long term of elephants at AZA-accredited services. The Hogle Zoo group need to be happy of the brave management the zoo is showing in generating this tough option.”
