Pittsburgh Zoo moving 2 elephants to conservation center with hope of growing herd
Two of the African elephants at the Pittsburgh Zoo are on the move.
The zoo says female elephants Victoria and Zuri will be moving to the International Conservation Center in Somerset. The zoo says the move is to help "ensure appropriate companionship" for elephants at both facilities and allow the herd to grow.
Victoria and Zuri will live at the zoo's conservation center with bull elephant Jackson and females Seeni, Sukiri and Bette.
"These two sisters have been here for a long time, but in nature, they would probably move on to another herd, and we can get them to a new location where they have more space and other companions, so in terms of herd dynamics, it makes a lot of sense," said Chris Bonar, the vice president of living collections at the Pittsburgh Zoo.
The zoo says its elephants in Pittsburgh and Somerset contribute to the preservation of elephants in the wild. The breeding herd also plays an important part in preserving elephants worldwide; Jackson is tied to nearly half of African elephant births in North America over the past decade.
"We always are looking to propagate elephants because it's critically important for them as an endangered species to make as many babies as possible, so in the long term, we're always thinking about reproduction," Bonar said.
Moving elephants is a big production. They're first trained to go into a crate. Then on moving day, they're crated, hoisted by a crane onto transport, then off they go.
The zoo says the carefully planned series of elephant moves will enhance herd dynamics while prioritizing the unique needs and well-being of each animal. More details are expected to be announced in the coming months.