Calgary Zoo to Relocate Elephants

[Bigtime]

This news is just coming in over twitter, but it seems to be the real deal.

http://metronews.ca/news/calgary/110...ove-elephants/

Calgary Zoo staff have made the decision to relocate their endangered Asian elephants to another facility.


The move will take place sometime in the next 4-5 years, according to a release issued Thursday.


“This decision is all about animal welfare,” said zoo President Dr. Clement Lanthier.



“It was based on growing acceptance of the importance of the social structure in elephant herds and the knowledge that their welfare is better served by being part of a large social group . . . the reality is that the Calgary Zoo has limited area for expansion due to our location on an island within the city centre.”

We were just there last weekend, my daughter was most excited to go and see the elephants too.

I wonder what will go in their place? I also wonder if this will be the final nail in the coffin of the elephant up at the zoo in Edmonton? The optics will look horrible if they still cling to theirs after we have moved ours out for their own health.

[Table 5]

Good, I always felt sorry for those animals. While they are at it, relocate the tiger and giraffes as well.

[blankall]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/...nt-herpes.html

No comment.

[Buff]

Elephants have been at the Calgary Zoo since forever and a day! I remember seeing them over 30 years ago. It will feel a bit empty without elephants. I still miss seeing the polar bears when we go to the zoo.

[You Need a Thneed]

It will be different without the elephants there.

[Bigtime]

The Australia section is closed now too, things could be getting slim at the zoo. What will they use to draw people when they lose these bigger attractions (asides from the pandas coming in a few years)?

[albertGQ]

Why did they get rid of the polar bears anyway?

I thought our zoo was world renowned? I guess not anymore

[nik-]

They should relocate them to my BBQ ... mmm, elephant.

[undercoverbrother]

Elephants.......one of the key memories I have of a trip to South Africa last year was sitting in the middle of a heard of Elephants as they ate the forest for breakfast.

We sat there for 30-40 mins, watching and taking picture.

Amazing and stinky.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

I thought our zoo was world renowned? I guess not anymore

World renowned for animals dying left and right maybe. Not sure if that's the norm or not, but all I ever seem to hear about the Calgary Zoo is about stuff going wrong.

[North East Goon]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Why did they get rid of the polar bears anyway?

I thought our zoo was world renowned? I guess not anymore

They died and it's extremely hard to tame polar bears. Plus they are a vanishing animal.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by North East Goon

They died and it's extremely hard to tame polar bears. Plus they are a vanishing animal.

The old Polar Bear habitat was also not suitable any more. I think originally there were plans to include a new habitat in the Arctic complex that eventually was scaled back just to include Penguins.

The old Polar Bears were basically mentally suffering which is why they would just pace and pace and pace.

[Jason14h]

Anyone know why the Australia section is closed atm, and whether this is temporary?

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

The Australia section is closed now too, things could be getting slim at the zoo. What will they use to draw people when they lose these bigger attractions (asides from the pandas coming in a few years)?

Due to the timing of our new baby last summer we didn't make a trip to the Zoo. I seem to remember the Australia section open in 2010 though. When and why did they close it down?

EDIT: Darn you Jason14h! You're too fast! (that's what she said!)

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Anyone know why the Australia section is closed atm, and whether this is temporary?

I believe it was the oldest facility still being used. Last time I was there the nocturnal part was completely closed but the kangaroos were still outside. Are they gone now completely?

[Bigtime]

The sign in front of the Australia section said it was closed, and "thanks for 30 years". So I took that to mean it was a permanent closure. Perhaps they need the space for the panda exhibit?

[frinkprof]

That's too bad. There was a new elephant enclosure recently built that opened in 2006 or 2007. It's too bad it has to go to waste. It would be nice to see elephants at the zoo again but it sounds like they would need a lot more space so that they could have a larger herd to make it better for the animals. That's probably not in the offing, especially after the investment into the new enclosure not long ago.

The penguin exhibit and the news of the pandas coming were positive news and a relief from all the negatives in the preceding few years with the stingrays dying and other problems. Now it looks like a return to negative news for the zoo.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

<snip>Relocate to another facility</snip>

Anybody else think St Patricks Island would be a good spot for that? More room, and it'd be nice to keep some of the marquee animals, but in a more appropriate way.

[Muta]

Maybe this is not the correct time to mention that a BBQ facility is being planned there.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Anybody else think St Patricks Island would be a good spot for that? More room, and it'd be nice to keep some of the marquee animals, but in a more appropriate way.

I've often wondered why they couldn't expand that way. Create more space for animals such as the Tigers and Elephants.