Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Editor
Chai and Bamboo are unpacking their trunks, so to speak, after arriving at Oklahoma City Zoo.
With the final leg of their road trip complete, the two walked out of their crates early this morning and into the quarantine barn of their new home.
Veterinarians regularly checked on the elephants throughout the trip and found them in good shape and doing well. Upon their arrival, Dr. Jennifer D’Agostino, Oklahoma City Zoo Director of Veterinary Services, noted both elephants looked great this morning. They immediately interacted with their keepers, munched on watermelon, cantaloupe, raisins and hay, enjoyed sand baths and explored their surroundings.
Chai and Bamboo have now entered a 30-day quarantine period, which is standard for any new animal arrival at an accredited zoo. Their Woodland Park Zoo keepers are with them to provide comfort and familiarity as they settle in. The expert animal care staff at Oklahoma City Zoo will take over daily care of the elephants, but our staff will remain with Chai and Bamboo for as long as necessary to help with this transition.
During quarantine, Chai and Bamboo will be able to see, hear and smell their new herd—and of course, the herd can see, hear and smell them. Morning baths are just around the corner for the herd, and they’ll soon become very aware of their new neighbors for the first time!As soon as conditions are suitable, Chai and Bamboo will be able to explore a separate, outdoor elephant yard viewable to zoo guests. Update: Check out the video tweeted by Oklahoma City Zoo above to see Chai and Bamboo exploring outside.
Once quarantine ends, they will be introduced gradually to the herd, which includes two young female adults ages 18 and 20, a 4 year old, and a 5 month old. Oklahoma City Zoo staff has significant expertise in integrating herds. Introducing animals is a process, and this process will work on elephant time. They’ll take incremental steps and follow the animals’ cues as they progress.
We’re thrilled to have found a home that provides Chai and Bamboo with a family to enrich their social lives. And, of course, Chai and Bamboo bring great benefits to their new family too! Oklahoma City Zoo is excited for the opportunity to round out their young family. Chai and Bamboo bring maturity and experience with a baby that will really broaden the social dynamics of the herd.
Being a part of a herd—that’s a feeling we treasure here at Woodland Park Zoo. It’s because of you—our herd, our zoo family—that we are able to provide excellent care and homes for our animals. These animal ambassadors touch the hearts and open the minds of more than 1.2 million guests each year, and empower us to bring conservation and education into the community and around the globe.
Every time you visit the zoo, you make it possible for us to support elephant anti-poaching patrols in Tanzania. Every time you visit the zoo, you make it possible for us to protect elephant habitat in Borneo. Every time you visit the zoo, you grow our herd of people making a difference for wildlife—and for that we thank you.
To stay in touch with Chai, Bamboo and their new family, we encourage you to follow Oklahoma City Zoo on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or at www.okczoo.com for updates.
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| Bamboo and Chai at Woodland Park Zoo in April 2015. The two elephants have now arrived at Oklahoma City Zoo. Photo by Mandi Fillmore/Woodland Park Zoo. |
Chai and Bamboo are unpacking their trunks, so to speak, after arriving at Oklahoma City Zoo.
With the final leg of their road trip complete, the two walked out of their crates early this morning and into the quarantine barn of their new home.
Veterinarians regularly checked on the elephants throughout the trip and found them in good shape and doing well. Upon their arrival, Dr. Jennifer D’Agostino, Oklahoma City Zoo Director of Veterinary Services, noted both elephants looked great this morning. They immediately interacted with their keepers, munched on watermelon, cantaloupe, raisins and hay, enjoyed sand baths and explored their surroundings.
Sound the trumpets & roll out the welcome mat...Bamboo & Chai have arrived. #elephantsOK pic.twitter.com/fhaU91dlbt
— Oklahoma City Zoo (@okczoo) May 13, 2015
Chai and Bamboo have now entered a 30-day quarantine period, which is standard for any new animal arrival at an accredited zoo. Their Woodland Park Zoo keepers are with them to provide comfort and familiarity as they settle in. The expert animal care staff at Oklahoma City Zoo will take over daily care of the elephants, but our staff will remain with Chai and Bamboo for as long as necessary to help with this transition.
During quarantine, Chai and Bamboo will be able to see, hear and smell their new herd—and of course, the herd can see, hear and smell them. Morning baths are just around the corner for the herd, and they’ll soon become very aware of their new neighbors for the first time!
 |
| Oklahoma City Zoo elephant herd. |
Once quarantine ends, they will be introduced gradually to the herd, which includes two young female adults ages 18 and 20, a 4 year old, and a 5 month old. Oklahoma City Zoo staff has significant expertise in integrating herds. Introducing animals is a process, and this process will work on elephant time. They’ll take incremental steps and follow the animals’ cues as they progress.
We’re thrilled to have found a home that provides Chai and Bamboo with a family to enrich their social lives. And, of course, Chai and Bamboo bring great benefits to their new family too! Oklahoma City Zoo is excited for the opportunity to round out their young family. Chai and Bamboo bring maturity and experience with a baby that will really broaden the social dynamics of the herd.
 |
| Taken at Woodland Park Zoo. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo. |
Being a part of a herd—that’s a feeling we treasure here at Woodland Park Zoo. It’s because of you—our herd, our zoo family—that we are able to provide excellent care and homes for our animals. These animal ambassadors touch the hearts and open the minds of more than 1.2 million guests each year, and empower us to bring conservation and education into the community and around the globe.
Every time you visit the zoo, you make it possible for us to support elephant anti-poaching patrols in Tanzania. Every time you visit the zoo, you make it possible for us to protect elephant habitat in Borneo. Every time you visit the zoo, you grow our herd of people making a difference for wildlife—and for that we thank you.
To stay in touch with Chai, Bamboo and their new family, we encourage you to follow Oklahoma City Zoo on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or at www.okczoo.com for updates.
Comments
First, elephants need 5-20 miles of walking per day. This is not possible when confined in a truck for 30 hours.
Elephants in zoos suffer from many foot problems and from arthritis due to such limited acreage. This is painful and debilitating and leads to early death.
This is suffering.
Second, elephants are intensely social animals. Elephants in the wild would never, ever leave their herds by foot and certainly not by truck to join new families. This is stressful and painful.
This is suffering.
Third, animals in zoo are subjected to breeding programs. Chai was artificially inseminated at least 112 times. This is intrusive and stressful and painful.
This is suffering.
Fourth, elephants in zoos are subjected to the care of the keepers. For example, the USDA has cited the Woodland Park Zoo for their inadequate care of their elephants. Google it
This is suffering.
Regarding TB, Woodland Park Zoo knowingly sent their beloved "girl" on loan to a zoo for breeding knowing that the elephants at that zoo had been exposed to TB. Breeding purposes trumped TB fears; only for sanctuary was TB cited as a concern. So an elephant was sent on a long journey to yet another "home" and exposed to TB.
This is suffering.
Well-meaning people know the difference between zoos and sanctuaries and that is why the many well-meaning people of Seattle brought lawsuits against Woodland Park Zoo, why the mayor spoke out, and why the Seattle Time spoke so eloquently about the plight of Chai and Bamboo and their tragic loss of sanctuary.
That is suffering too, for them, and for us, those well-meaning people.
What a tragedy.
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