Mary, a 44-year-old female Asian elephant, took advantage of a sunny San Diego day to take a dip in a 137,000-gallon pool in her new home, The Harry and Grace Steele Elephant Odyssey.
San Diego Zoo's Elephant Odyssey
May 23, 2009The San Diego Zoo has begun a journey through time, highlighting animals of the past, the present and the future in The Harry and Grace Steele Elephant Odyssey. Newly opened on May 23, the 7.5-acre habitat features relatives of animal species that once dotted the Southern California landscape more than 10,000 years ago such as elephants, lions and the California condor.
In addition to highlighting conservation efforts, the $45-million Elephant Odyssey features naturalistic habitats, a fossil dig for children and life-size replicas of prehistoric animals such as mammoths.
“The community has shown great support for this venture, garnering the San Diego Zoo’s largest financial gifts,” said Mark Stuart, chief development officer and president of the Foundation for the Zoological Society of San Diego. “This is a testament to the importance our community places on conservation.”
Protecting The World's Largest Land Mammal
The Asian elephant is one of many species that needs protection. That is why this species is the cornerstone of the Zoo’s largest multi-species habitat in its 93-year history. Instead of the Columbian mammoth, Asian elephants will meander a 2.5-acre exhibit that includes a 137,000-gallon pool, gentle rolling hills, hidden feeders to entice foraging and the half-acre Conrad Prebys Elephant Care Center.
Special viewing at the Prebys Care Center provides visitors with an insider’s view, seeing keepers and veterinarians work alongside elephants through protected contact and a positive management style. The animals have access to heaters, shelter and shade during inclement weather, while two spaces in the Care Center include a floor with rubber coating for medical care.
The four Asian elephants that were once at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park near Escondido, Calif. joined the San Diego Zoo’s three elephants to create a 7-member herd. Their habitat is divided into three yards that can be opened into one large yard for the entire herd or into smaller yards to provide individual animals with opportunities for a variety of social and behavioral experiences.
Back From The Brink Of Extinction
Returning to the San Diego Zoo for the first time since the 1980s, the California condor, a bird once on the brink of extinction, represents prehistoric species such as the Merriam’s teratron that had a wingspan of up to 12 feet. The San Diego Zoo first began working with the California condor in 1982 when the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service asked the San Diego Zoo to join the California Condor Recovery Program. Recovery efforts have since led to the successful breeding and release of hundreds of condors back into their native habitat in California, Arizona and Mexico.
Introducing The World's Slowest Mammal
A goal for Elephant Odyssey was to bring new elements to the Zoo such as the tree sloth, possibly the world’s slowest mammal. At only 2 feet long, this South American animal is dwarfed in comparison to the three extinct species of ground sloth that once roamed California. The Harlan’s and Jefferson’s ground sloths were 8 feet tall when standing upright, while the Shasta ground sloth was 6 feet tall.
Connecting With Unique and Rare Animals
Elephant Odyssey includes more than 35 other species such as jaguars, lions, secretary birds, guanacos, tapirs, capybaras, camels, peninsular pronghorns, rattlesnakes and pond turtles into new naturalistic exhibits.
Many of the animals of Elephant Odyssey are endangered or threatened with extinction. The Zoological Society of San Diego is a leader in conservation programs that support the sustainability of many of these species. The Society has successfully reintroduced animals such as the California condor and the Przewalski’s horse back to their native habitat. Conservation stories like these will be highlighted throughout Elephant Odyssey.
About San Diego Zoo
The 100-acre San Diego Zoo is dedicated to the conservation of endangered species and their habitats. The organization focuses on conservation and research work around the globe, educates millions of individuals a year about wildlife and maintains accredited horticultural, animal, library and photo collections. The Zoo also manages the 1,800-acre San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park, which includes a 900-acre native species reserve, and the San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research. The important conservation and science work of these entities is supported in part by The Foundation of the Zoological Society of San Diego.
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