Category: Asian Elephants
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
This week would have marked Asian elephant Malee’s eighth birthday. She was the first elephant calf born at the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden after many years of work and the completion of a new elephant habitat. Instead, it’s an opportunity to reflect on the progress being made against the virus that claimed her life in 2015 when she was only four years old.
A lethal virus called EEHV (elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus) is causing the death of young elephants...
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at Tuesday, April 16, 2019
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
After an almost two-year pregnancy, the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is happy to announce the addition of a female calf to its Asian elephant herd. Kairavi, Sanskrit for moonlight, was born Tuesday, October 9, at 11:28 p.m., inside the OKC Zoo’s elephant habitat at Sanctuary Asia. Both mother, Asha, and newborn, Kairavi (Kai), are in good health and are now viewable to guests. Kai’s arrival brings the total number of Asian elephants at the Zoo to seven.
Veterinary...
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at Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Thursday, July 26, 2018
Sanctuary Asia , opening soon at the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, will create a vast, multipurpose environment where endangered animals from the Asian continent can thrive while receiving world-class animal care. Prior to the opening, we will periodically preview a species coming to the new habitat. We previously featured the Indian rhinos , langurs , cassowaries , tanuki (raccoon dogs) and Komodo dragons , now it's time to profile the Asian...
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at Thursday, July 26, 2018
Monday, May 7, 2018
You are never supposed to have a favorite animal, but I have to admit some of us do. For me, it’s Asha, the OKC Zoo’s 23-year-old female Asian elephant. She has a sweet temperament, eager to train and socialize with caretakers. She is also a wonderful mother to Achara, 3, and will soon be raising a new calf, due this fall after a 22-month gestation! Rex, 48, will yet again be a proud papa fathering his second calf since he arrived at the Zoo.
You may be asking...
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at Monday, May 7, 2018
Friday, August 11, 2017
Every day is a great day to come to the Zoo, but this Saturday, August 12, Zoo guests have a BIG reason to join in on the fun – it’s World Elephant Day!
As someone who has the honor of caring for elephants every day, this event is particularly exciting. World Elephant Day is our team's day to share the passion we have for the care and conservation of the world’s largest-living land mammals.
The...
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at Friday, August 11, 2017
Monday, August 7, 2017
Summer is upon us at the OKC Zoo, and the elephants have already begun utilizing one of their most-enjoyed creature comforts – the water features! When you visit the Asian elephant herd during this time of the year, you’ll likely witness the elephants swimming and playing in the water. Our habitats have ample opportunities for the animals to cool down when the Oklahoma summer heat begins. Our largest habitat has a 220,000 galloon pool that is 12-feet deep,...
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at Monday, August 7, 2017
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
The Oklahoma City Zoo is a place that my family and I have always enjoyed. My first trip to the Zoo was in 1998 when I was about six months old and I have been visiting ever since. The Zoo recently added something new called Wild Encounters! I was very intrigued by this. After researching, I found that guests get behind-the-scenes interactions with some of the amazing animals that call the Zoo their home.
I was so excited to see what this was all about, so I signed up my 11-year-old sister,...
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at Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Monday, February 27, 2017
Last fall, myself and two other members of the Zoo’s Elephant team had the incredible opportunity to travel to India for two weeks to consult with Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation Center. This adventure brought us to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal and home of 18 rescued elephants (ages 7 to 60) that now reside at the Center. Here, we were asked to assist the veterinarians and mahouts (elephant caretakers) with elephant foot care, positive reinforcement training techniques, implementing new...
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at Monday, February 27, 2017
Sunday, December 18, 2016
The Oklahoma City Zoo’s elephant program encompasses daily feedings, exercises, baths enrichment activities and health checks. As a part of the elephant team, I enjoy doing footwork on the elephants the most.
Footwork is a very important part of keeping our elephants healthy. Everyday during each elephant’s morning bath, we hose off and inspect their feet for any problems. An elephant’s foot pad is like a giant shock absorber that enables them to walk, swim, climb, stomp on...
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at Sunday, December 18, 2016
Saturday, November 12, 2016
Elephants are magnificent creatures and have many facets. One of those facets is their intelligence level. Elephants are one of the smartest animals on the planet, which enables us to create a respectable relationship with them. As trainers, we are given the opportunity to observe their intelligence on a daily basis through volunteer-type training where they have the freedom to choose to participate. This training enables us, as their caretakers, to mentally and physically stimulate them. Every...
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at Saturday, November 12, 2016