Nashville Zoo African Elephant

SavannahAdrienne Broussard

Introduction- Houston Zoo “Natural Encounters” Visit- Rainforest Canopy- Artificial Plants- Looking for an actual “natural encounter”- Found African Elephant Savannah

Nashville Zoo History 1996 move to 200-acre

site Grassmere 15 year master plan to

make one of the largest zoos in the country

Natural habitats- Gibbon Islands, Bamboo Trail, Meerkat Habitat

Newest addition – African Elephant Savannah

From http://www.nashvillezoo.org/zoocards/zoocards.htm

Mission Statement Zoo- “Promoting environmental and

species conservation through education and recreation”

Elephant habitat- “To create, for guests, the sensation of feeling transported to Africa”

From http://www.pbase.com/deadelvis/image/21901763

Current Funding The zoo is a non-profit organization Admission prices, donations, and grants

support exhibits Cal Turner Family Foundation African

Elephant Savannah Fund Elephant paintings

From http://www.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/elephant_art.htmlFrom http://www.elephants.com/tarra/tarra.htm

Organizational StructureZoo President

General Curator

Assistant Curator

Elephant Manager Other Lead Keepers

Keepers

Zoo Map

From http://www.nashvillezoo.org/master_plan.htm

Elephant Information Loxodonta africana, largest

terrestrial animal Live in scattered herds

throughout Africa, south of the Sahara desert

Deep forests, marshlands, open savannahs, thornbrush, and semi-desert grasslands

Up to 11 feet tall, 5-7 tons Distinguished by large fan-

like ears

From http://www.nashvillezoo.org/elephants.htm

“Pachyderm” Thick-skinned Everywhere except

inner ear, mouth, and anus

Sparsely covered with bristly hair, babies have more

Gray skin, may appear reddish brown due to mudholing From http://www.birdingamerica.com/DC/elephant.htm

Eating Habits Herbivores- wild grasses, trees, bark,

shrubs, fruits, soils for minerals Captivity- pellet supplement, fruit and

vegetable treats, “wild diet” Consume up to 500 pounds of food a day Drink 40 gallons of water at a time

From http://www.shunya.net/Pictures/Animals/Elephants.htm

Social Habits

Strong family ties Herds Mothers and calves run by a related matriarch,

males live in bachelor herds Grieve over death of a herd member, bury with twigs,

branches and leaves Care for sick by bringing food and water

From http://www.nashvillezoo.org/elephants.htm

Endangerment Human encroachment of habitat Poaching for ivory- usually older elephants, loss of matriarch

confuses herd, orphans rarely survive Black market Kenya- numbers dropped from 150,000 to 30,000 in the last 10 years Currently 600,000 in Africa

From http://congogorillaforest.com/congoconservationchoices/congoelephant

Species Survival Program (SSP) American Zoo and Aquarium Association Began 1981, manages breeding to

maintain a stable, genetically diverse captive population

Conservation activities research, public education, reintroduction, field projects

116 species involved

Elephant SSP Began August 1990 122 cows, 13 bulls Nashville Zoo chosen

for artificial insemination research

Kiba, cow at the zoo, ideal age and temperament

From http://www.wildlife-pictures-online.com/image-files/xeptb5.jpg

African Elephant Savannah History Construction began in

August of 2003 by Solomon Builders

$3.5 million Opened April 9, 2005 Activities included

elephant tattoos, color-your-own buttons, African drum and dance group, educational booths, elephant photo opportunities, elephant art posters

From http://www.pbase.com/deadelvis/image/43548302

Habitat 3 acres resembling

African savannah to house the zoo’s 3 female elephants-Hadari, Sukari, and Kiba

Several viewing points along a trail, 150,000 gallon wading pool, mudhole, barn, tall trees and extensive landscaping

Safari “camps”From http://www.nashvillezoo.org/master_plan.htm

Exhibit

From http://www.aza.org/Publications/2005/05/ExhibitsMay05.pdf

Daily Schedule 6:30 am- morning grain, barn cleaned and hosed 6:50 am- Brisk walk for 1 mile After walk- individually bathed Released into yard, weather permitting, forage, swim,

wallow, socialize, rest Throughout the day, removed one at a time for tub work,

harness work, and painting, leg work is done in the yard 4:00 pm- afternoon grain in the yard, keeper questions 6:00 pm- 1 mile walk 6:30 pm- Put up in barn 9:00 pm- Water refilled, droppings removed, given hay for

the night

Landscaping 7000 plants, 5000 ornamental grasses Resemble African species- for example, Honey

Locust used in place of Acacia

Honey LocustFrom http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/12541/#42105

AcaciaFrom http://www.wildwatch.com/resources/plants/acacias.asp

Grasses Miscanthus, Arundo, Pampas Grown in special substrate

Encourage deep rooting systems Reduce trampling from elephants

Special soil mix also used to reduce grass compaction

Miscanthus

From http://bonsaibc.ca/peninsula/Miscanthus_Morning_light_O.-2__-2002.JPG

Pampas

From http://www.thegardenhelper.com/pampaspix.html

Safari Camps Along viewing trail, educational tool Resemble research camps in Africa

Contain tents and basic supplies Each features a different topic focusing on

elephant conservation and the elephants relationships with African cultures

Also carts with docents armed with biofacts

Keeper chats, foot trimming and bathing demonstrations

Future Funding American Zoo and Aquarium Association’s

Conservation Endowment Fund Mission Statement- “We envision a world

where all people respect, value, and conserve animals and nature”

Goals: Advancement of zoos and aquariums in conservation, education, science, and recreation, financial support for AZA members

Zoo involvement in SSP, education of public about research and conservation, natural habitat

Future Funding contd.

The Conservation and Research Small Grants Program of the Cleveland Zoological Society Mission Statement- “To improve the future for

wildlife by exhibiting animals and plants and providing education and conservation programs which encourage respect and stewardship of the natural world and a better understanding of our place within it”

Goals: support conservation and research initiatives involving animals and their habitat, and educational/cultural activities that involve animals

Natural habitat construction, SSP, public education, animal enrichment

Evaluation Process Currently no formal evaluation method Elephant Perspective: Elephant managers

have had 25 years experience, evaluate on a daily basis

Zoo Visitor Perspective: 7% increase in visitors

From http://www.elephants.com/physicians.htm

Recommendations Bring in outside experts for an outside

opinion Landscaping expert evaluate monthly Include African savannah as an

educational topic Maintenance costs

Pro- Public viewing of animals in natural environment

Con- Thousands of dollars in upkeep

Summary Popularity of “natural habitats” Provide animal enrichment Bring in more visitors Nashville Zoo rewarded for Elephant Savannah by

involvement in SSP No formal evaluation Elephant biology, research, conservation

addressed Landscape recognition Overall, positive impact on elephants and people

From http://www.shunya.net/Pictures/Tanzania/Serengeti/Elephant22.jpg

References African Elephants. (2005). Retrieved 10/13/2005 from http://

www.nashvillezoo.org/elephants.htm. American Zoo and Aquarium Association Conservation Endowment Fund.

(2005). Retrieved 10/05/2005 from http://www.aza.org/ConScience/WhatIsCEF/.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Grants. (2005). Retrieved 10/05/2005 from http://www.clemetzoo.com/conservation/grants.asp#smallgrants Elephant Conservation (2005). Retrieved 10/13/2005 from

http://www.nashvillezoo.org/elephants2.htm. Nashville Zoo Elephant Habitat. (2005). Retrieve 10/13/2005 from http://

www.nashvillezoo.org/elephant_habitat.htm. Nashville Zoo Master Plan. (2005). Retrieved 10/19/2005 from http://

www.nashvillezoo.org/master_plan.htm Sarles, Judy. Elephant Exhibit Opening Draws 6,600+ to Nashville Zoo.

(2005, April 11). Retrieved 10/15/2005 from http://nashville.bizjournals.com/nashville/stories/2005/04/11/daily6.html

Species Survival Plan. (2005). Retrieved 10/14/2005 from http://www.nashvillezoo.org/ssp.htm.

Any Questions?

From http://www.shunya.net/Pictures/Tanzania/Selous/Elephant03.jpg