National Elephant Center Launches to Help Protect Species

Research and training from the Center will help the Virginia Zoo with its elephant program

NORFOLK , VA – An exciting new partnership was announced today that will support the Virginia Zoo in its care of elephants and offer training opportunities for keepers. The National Elephant Center was officially launched at a press conference in Houston , Texas . The center is the result of a collaboration of zoo leaders and will become the epicenter for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) elephant population management. Currently, over 280 elephants are cared for in 77 North American zoos accredited by the AZA, including the three female elephants at the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk.

The National Elephant Center will be located on 345 acres owned by Waste Management in Okeechobee , Florida . The facility is under development and slated to open to elephants in early 2009. “This is truly a significant event,” notes Greg Bockheim, executive director of the Virginia Zoo. “Ensuring species survival through well-managed conservation, education, research and breeding programs is an important role AZA facilities play. This new Center will help all of us concerned about the welfare of elephants and their habitats to better serve and protect this magnificent animal.” (For more information about the goals of the National Elephant Center, please see attached fact sheet.)

When the Center opens, AZA accredited facilities, such as the Virginia Zoo, will be able to take advantage of training programs for keepers, access the latest research on nutrition and health care, participate in research and rely on population management support.

The elephants at the Virginia Zoo are named Monica, Lisa and Cita. They eat about 100 pounds of food daily, including six to seven bales of hay and 20 pounds of grains. They weigh between 8,000 and 10,000 pounds each and are over 8-feet high at the shoulder. They love to play with stumps and tires, and they are artists, painting modern works of art on canvases held by human helpers. Cita came to the Virginia Zoo as a movie star, having appeared in films such as “The Color Purple” and “PeeWee's Big Adventure.”

To see Monica, Lisa, Cita and their animal neighbors, stop by the Virginia Zoo. As an accredited Association of Zoos and Aquariums ( AZA ) facility, the Virginia Zoo exhibits over 350 animals, beautifully manicured grounds and offers a fun-filled day for all. For more than a century, the Virginia Zoo has demonstrated a commitment to wildlife, conservation and education. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and located at 3500 Granby Street in Norfolk . Daily admission prices are $7.00 for adults, $6.00 for seniors (age 62 and over), and $5.00 for children ages 2-11. Visit www.virginiazoo.org or call (757) 441-2374 for more information.