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December 7, 2009

Oklahoma City Zoo elephant ‘expecting’ at Tulsa Zoo

TULSA — TULSA — The Tulsa Zoo announced the pregnancy of 14-year-old Asian elephant, Asha.

Asha and her sister, 13-year-old Chandra, took up temporary residence at the Tulsa Zoo in June of 2008. The goal was for them to meet and successfully breed with Tulsa’s bull elephant, Sneezy. Four months of hormone monitoring and a recent ultrasound confirmed the pregnancy. She is expected to give birth in spring of 2011 following a 22-month gestation. Sneezy and Chandra are still having their amorous moments but Chandra is not pregnant at this point.

While at their home away from home, the Oklahoma City Zoo has been constructing a new, state-of-the art elephant habitat for the elephants’ (possibly pregnant) return. This is the first elephant pregnancy for the Oklahoma City Zoo.

“We are excited but cautiously optimistic about this pregnancy,” said Dwight Scott, OKC Zoo executive director. “Our staff here is grateful to the staff in Tulsa for their hard work and partnership in this effort.”

Asha is receiving excellent care from Tulsa Zoo keepers and veterinary staff; however for all mammals pregnancy does carry some risk. The teams at both zoos are communicating and consulting with one another throughout the process. Currently, Asha and her calf appear to be healthy and they will be monitored closely throughout the pregnancy.

Little sister, Chandra, may soon be expecting a calf of her own, if breeding efforts are fruitful.

“We will continue to monitor Chandra’s hormone level to determine the best time to introduce our male, Sneezy, to her,” said Terrie Correll, Tulsa Zoo director. “This is a tremendous opportunity for our elephant program and zoo and to work with our colleagues at the Oklahoma City Zoo in the conservation of Asian elephants.”

The Tulsa Zoo welcomed their Oklahoma City guests on June 12, 2008. The two females are at the right ages to begin breeding. Through efforts between the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Oklahoma City Zoo, and the Tulsa Zoo (along with other zoo professionals), a recommendation based upon scientific research indicated that Oklahoma City’s elephants would be a good genetic match with Tulsa’s male for breeding. And with a little help from Mother Nature, baby elephants could be in Oklahoma in 2011.

Construction of the elephant barn and three yards is scheduled to be completed by the end of August 2010 at the OKC Zoo. This would allow for the elephants to return within an 18-month window of gestation, which is the preferred timeframe of opportunity for travel. Both elephants will return at the same time regardless of whether both are pregnant or not. This is important for their complex social structure and overall well-being.

Through AZA’s collective conservation, education and research programs, elephants in the care of accredited zoos like Tulsa and Oklahoma City play an essential role in the survival of the species in Africa and Asia.

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