Oregon Zoo - Asian Elephant Exhibit

Oregon Zoo - Asian Elephant Exhibit
08-09-2008

August 2008. One half of the outdoor exhibit, but the 7 elephants are always split up into smaller areas due to the zoo having 4 males and 3 females. Quite a bit different from a zoo like Taronga in Sydney, Australia, which has piles of soft sand and grass everywhere.

02-11-2008

I don't understand why Oregon can't include the green trees in the back in the exhibit. It makes too much contrast between a lush forest and hard ugly flat compact dirt. The compact dirt they have in that enclosure is horrible for the elephants feet. They need grass like at Indianapolis, Seattle, or SDWAP. They also need rolling hills and something else to enrich them besides a filthy pool and ancient tire. At least better pool filtration. This exhibit needs tons of work.

02-11-2008

Some people have defended the Oregon Zoo's work with elephants simply because of the excellent breeding record there, but the habitat is absolutely brutal.

02-11-2008

They should at least put a pile of dirt/sand so the elephants could have a soft surface to play in. I think SD zoo does that in their current elephant exhibit.

01-01-2009

SD Zoo utilizes the space they have to the best of their ability. For example whether than just throwing food to the elephants three times a day, they put all the food in feeders hanging from trees and in other types of things the elephants to manipulate. This makes the elephant spend 8-10 hours foraging through all the feeders whether than gobbling up the hay in two hours. Less time swaying and more time foraging. What a great concept!

There is no defending this hideous exhibit that does not have a blade of grass or perhaps a pile of sand. Just compact rock hard dirt.

01-01-2009

Los Angeles Zoo also uses feeders to feed Billy. Even the hay is put on feeders.

01-01-2009

I love when zoos do that. I was really angry how at the Miami Metrozoo how the keepers just toss food to them three times a day. The zoos in Southern California are very progressive with elephants in the way they feed them by making the elephants forage. It is much more emotionally satisfying for the elephant.

07-02-2009

The good news with the exhibit in the photo is that now the Oregon Zoo's $125 million bond has passed and the 7 elephants will be going from 1.5 acres to 6 acres in the future. Hopefully the substrate becomes softer for their feet.