All of the major construction, including the barn, is already done. They seem to just be finishing up on smaller, cosmetic stuff. I am quite sure everything will be up to par. The zoo sent out an email blast yesterday saying the exhibit will open in March! Seems a bit optimistic to me, but here's hoping... (Since it was not a private docent email, but an official release sent to the entire membership, I feel comfortable posting it below): Elephant Update The pool is full, the grass is lush and green, the mud wallow is, well, quite muddy! Get ready to meet Tucson's newest pachyderm pals, a family of African elephants who will be arriving shortly from San Diego Zoo's Safari Park. With construction nearly complete, we're very excited to open this world-class exhibit for the community who helped it become a reality. Without the generosity of our donors, the hard work of our staff and volunteers, and the tireless efforts of our advocates everywhere, this never would have been possible. When will your new exhibit be complete? Construction on Expedition Tanzania will be complete by February, and we hope to open in March, 2012. Are we receiving new elephants in Tucson? Yes. With the completion of Expedition Tanzania, we will acquire additional African Elephants. In cooperation with AZA and the African Elephant Species Survival Plan, we are working with our colleagues at San Diego Zoo Safari Park to plan for the future of elephants in Tucson. Owing to the successful elephant breeding program in San Diego, their herd is large enough to be split – allowing for additional potential breeding and conservation efforts in the future – right here in Tucson. Are Connie and Shaba staying here? No. A collaborative agreement between the San Diego Zoo and Reid Park Zoo has been made to move both Connie, the Asian elephant, and Shaba, the African, to San Diego Zoo’s state-of-the-art Elephant Odyssey habitat. This $40 million exhibit was built to cater to the needs of older Asian elephants with accommodations and staffing to address age-related issues. We feel these special accommodations and ability to integrate with a larger herd is a wonderful opportunity for both animals, particularly for Connie as she is elderly. If you have more questions about the exhibit, elephants at Reid Park Zoo, or Connie and Shaba's future, we invite you to check out our newly posted ELEPHANT FAQ. It's full of information and we hope it will answer any lingering questions you might have.
This page on the zoo website has some recent photos of the exhibit. Expedition Tanzania - Reid Park Zoo, Tucson, AZ
Thanks for posting the link, and the exhibit looks to be almost finished. I'm impressed with all of the photos that are on the zoo's webpage, and hopefully the city of Tucson embraces the zoo's largest ever construction project with a massive increase in visitor numbers in 2012 and the years to come. Is there still no word on what will happen to the old, outdated elephant enclosure?
This enclosure has such attention to detail, in the rock work, education/barn building and sight lines; already making it one of my favorite elephant enclosures in the U.S. Putting Reid park up there with Dallas, North Carolina, Nashville, and Disney! I can't wait to see photos of the animals interacting with their new home! Is there a time frame for the animals from SDSP to be transferred?
Sometime in February is the best answer I can get, although I suppose it could even be early March. Obviosly they will not announce the specific move date ahead of time for fear that opponents will show up to try to block something. I am sure even the docents will not know until the elephants are actually on the grounds.
Here is a new article from a local television station about the move of our current two elephants to the San Diego Zoo: Inside look at Elephant Odyssey; Connie and Shaba's new home - Home
That's probably a good idea. I remember when they were moving the Asian herd from SDSP to SDZ, they did it in the middle of the night and didn't tell anyone exactly when it happened. It makes sense because the vehicles used to transport them can't go very fast with the elephants in them and they don't want any problems with protesters or even well-meaning lookie-loos.
The zoo has just posted a brief update on the main page of the web site which says they hope to have the exhibit open by late March. Expedition Tanzania Nears Completion 1-27-12 - Reid Park Zoo, Tucson, AZ
This project has been so encompassing and is so much bigger than anything our small zoo has ever done, that I do not think anyone has had time to think of much else. Obviously, our old elephant yard will soon be empty and we will have to think of what to do there. I am sure senior staff are in preliminary discussions, but nothing formal has been announced to docents or the public. (The original master plan, now a decade old, called for an Australia section here. But then again it also called for cheetahs and leopards to be added next to the new elephant area and obviously that is not going to happen.)
The elephants are supposed to be transferred really soon right (both the five from SDSP and Connie and Shaba)? Have you found out the animals being transferred from SDSP yet?
@Arizona Docent Are there going to be any other phases to Expedition Tanzania further down the road or are elephants going to be it for this project.What are you personal thoughts on the old exhibit what would you like them to do with it. Team Tapir
I can answer the first part of your question. The second phase calls for a new hoof stock savanna, which if I'm correct will be connected to the elephant portion, making it multi-species like Dallas. I don't know if the plans have changed, but that's what I had heard initially.
Georgeousingray is partly correct. It would NOT be a new (second savanna), but would be adding hoofstock to the current savanna. On the far west side, a small area (out of view) has been left vacant for the possible future addition of a hoofstock barn. The elephant barn is on the far east side. If funds become available, the hoofstock barn could be added (and how cool would that be?). As for what I would like to see happen with the old area, anyone who is a regular on this site can tell you what my answer would be. Caracal, serval, black footed cat, etc. Of course I know that will not happen. I did have one senior staff person tell me what they would ideally like to see, but it was just speculation (and quite costly) and was a confidential conversation, so you will not see me post it. What I can post is the newest video the zoo has released about the project.
I agree, I wonder has this idea been done anywhere else? or is this something innovative that Reid Park is doing?
I don't know about the bouncy tree, but some zoos have hidden stuff behind fake termite mounds/trees/rocks. I know the LA Zoo has a hidden rotating barrel with holes so that the elephants must move it in order to get the food.