Nashville Zoo African Elephant Savannah Adrienne Broussard
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