The Nashville Zoo opened an African Elephant Savannah habitat in 2005 to provide its elephants with a more natural environment. The 3-acre exhibit was designed to resemble the elephants' natural habitat in Africa. It features landscaping with native plants, a large pool, and areas for the elephants to wallow, feed, and socialize. The habitat has been popular with visitors and supported the zoo's involvement in elephant conservation programs. While the elephants seem to benefit from the more natural space, the zoo has not implemented a formal evaluation process to measure the exhibit's impacts.
2. Introduction
- Houston Zoo “Natural Encounters” Visit
- Rainforest Canopy
- Artificial Plants
- Looking for an actual “natural encounter”
- Found African Elephant Savannah
3. Nashville Zoo History
1996 move to 200-acre
site Grassmere
15 year master plan to
make one of the largest
zoos in the country
Natural habitats- Gibbon
Islands, Bamboo Trail,
Meerkat Habitat
Newest addition –
African Elephant
Savannah
From http://www.nashvillezoo.org/zoocards/zoocards.htm
4. Mission Statement
Zoo- “Promoting environmental and
species conservation through education
and recreation”
Elephant habitat- “To create, for guests,
the sensation of feeling transported to
Africa”
From http://www.pbase.com/deadelvis/image/21901763
5. Current Funding
The zoo is a non-profit organization
Admission prices, donations, and grants
support exhibits
Cal Turner Family Foundation African
Elephant Savannah Fund
Elephant paintings
From http://www.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/elephant_art.html
From http://www.elephants.com/tarra/tarra.htm
8. Elephant Information
Loxodonta africana, largest
terrestrial animal
Live in scattered herds
throughout Africa, south of
the Sahara desert
Deep forests, marshlands,
open savannahs,
thornbrush, and semi-
desert grasslands
Up to 11 feet tall, 5-7 tons
Distinguished by large fan-
like ears
From http://www.nashvillezoo.org/elephants.htm
9. “Pachyderm”
Thick-skinned
Everywhere except
inner ear, mouth,
and anus
Sparsely covered
with bristly hair,
babies have more
Gray skin, may
appear reddish
brown due to
mudholing
From http://www.birdingamerica.com/DC/elephant.htm
10. Eating Habits
Herbivores- wild grasses, trees, bark,
shrubs, fruits, soils for minerals
Captivity- pellet supplement, fruit and
vegetable treats, “wild diet”
Consume up to 500 pounds of food a day
Drink 40 gallons of water at a time
From http://www.shunya.net/Pictures/Animals/Elephants.htm
11. Social Habits
Strong family ties
Herds Mothers and calves run by a related
matriarch, males live in bachelor herds
Grieve over death of a herd member, bury with
twigs, branches and leaves
Care for sick by bringing food and water
From http://www.nashvillezoo.org/elephants.htm
12. Endangerment
Human encroachment of habitat
Poaching for ivory- usually older elephants, loss
of matriarch confuses herd, orphans rarely
survive
Black market
Kenya- numbers dropped from 150,000 to
30,000 in the last 10 years
Currently 600,000 in Africa
From http://congogorillaforest.com/congoconservationchoices/congoelephant
13. Species Survival Program (SSP)
American Zoo and Aquarium Association
Began 1981, manages breeding to
maintain a stable, genetically diverse
captive population
Conservation activities research, public
education, reintroduction, field projects
116 species involved
14. Elephant SSP
Began August 1990
122 cows, 13 bulls
Nashville Zoo chosen
for artificial
insemination research
Kiba, cow at the zoo,
ideal age and
temperament
From http://www.wildlife-pictures-online.com/image-files/xeptb5.jpg
15. African Elephant Savannah History
Construction began in
August of 2003 by
Solomon Builders
$3.5 million
Opened April 9, 2005
Activities included
elephant tattoos, color-
your-own buttons,
African drum and
dance group,
educational booths,
elephant photo
opportunities, elephant
art posters
From http://www.pbase.com/deadelvis/image/43548302
16. Habitat
3 acres resembling
African savannah to
house the zoo’s 3
female elephants-
Hadari, Sukari, and
Kiba
Several viewing points
along a trail, 150,000
gallon wading pool,
mudhole, barn, tall
trees and extensive
landscaping
Safari “camps”
From http://www.nashvillezoo.org/master_plan.htm
18. Daily Schedule
6:30 am- morning grain, barn cleaned and hosed
6:50 am- Brisk walk for 1 mile
After walk- individually bathed
Released into yard, weather permitting, forage, swim,
wallow, socialize, rest
Throughout the day, removed one at a time for tub work,
harness work, and painting, leg work is done in the yard
4:00 pm- afternoon grain in the yard, keeper questions
6:00 pm- 1 mile walk
6:30 pm- Put up in barn
9:00 pm- Water refilled, droppings removed, given hay for
the night
19. Landscaping
7000 plants, 5000 ornamental grasses
Resemble African species- for example, Honey
Locust used in place of Acacia
Honey Locust
From http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/12541/#42105
Acacia
From http://www.wildwatch.com/resources/plants/acacias.asp
20. Grasses
Miscanthus, Arundo, Pampas
Grown in special substrate
Encourage deep rooting systems
Reduce trampling from elephants
Special soil mix also used to reduce grass
compaction
Miscanthus
From http://bonsaibc.ca/peninsula/Miscanthus_Morning_light_O.-2__-2002.JPG
Pampas
From http://www.thegardenhelper.com/pampaspix.html
21. Safari Camps
Along viewing trail, educational tool
Resemble research camps in Africa
Contain tents and basic supplies
Each features a different topic focusing on
elephant conservation and the elephants
relationships with African cultures
Also carts with docents armed with
biofacts
Keeper chats, foot trimming and bathing
demonstrations
22. Future Funding
American Zoo and Aquarium Association’s
Conservation Endowment Fund
Mission Statement- “We envision a world
where all people respect, value, and conserve
animals and nature”
Goals: Advancement of zoos and aquariums in
conservation, education, science, and
recreation, financial support for AZA members
Zoo involvement in SSP, education of public
about research and conservation, natural
habitat
23. Future Funding contd.
The Conservation and Research Small Grants
Program of the Cleveland Zoological Society
Mission Statement- “To improve the future for
wildlife by exhibiting animals and plants and
providing education and conservation programs
which encourage respect and stewardship of the
natural world and a better understanding of our
place within it”
Goals: support conservation and research
initiatives involving animals and their habitat, and
educational/cultural activities that involve animals
Natural habitat construction, SSP, public education,
animal enrichment
24. Evaluation Process
Currently no formal evaluation method
Elephant Perspective: Elephant managers
have had 25 years experience, evaluate
on a daily basis
Zoo Visitor Perspective: 7% increase in
visitors
From http://www.elephants.com/physicians.htm
25. Recommendations
Bring in outside experts for an outside
opinion
Landscaping expert evaluate monthly
Include African savannah as an
educational topic
Maintenance costs
Pro- Public viewing of animals in natural
environment
Con- Thousands of dollars in upkeep
26. Summary
Popularity of “natural habitats”
Provide animal enrichment
Bring in more visitors
Nashville Zoo rewarded for Elephant Savannah by
involvement in SSP
No formal evaluation
Elephant biology, research, conservation
addressed
Landscape recognition
Overall, positive impact on elephants and people
From http://www.shunya.net/Pictures/Tanzania/Serengeti/Elephant22.jpg
27. References
African Elephants. (2005). Retrieved 10/13/2005 from
http://www.nashvillezoo.org/elephants.htm.
American Zoo and Aquarium Association Conservation Endowment Fund.
(2005). Retrieved 10/05/2005 from
http://www.aza.org/ConScience/WhatIsCEF/.
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Grants. (2005). Retrieved 10/05/2005 from
http://www.clemetzoo.com/conservation/grants.asp#smallgrants
Elephant Conservation (2005). Retrieved 10/13/2005 from
http://www.nashvillezoo.org/elephants2.htm.
Nashville Zoo Elephant Habitat. (2005). Retrieve 10/13/2005 from
http://www.nashvillezoo.org/elephant_habitat.htm.
Nashville Zoo Master Plan. (2005). Retrieved 10/19/2005 from
http://www.nashvillezoo.org/master_plan.htm
Sarles, Judy. Elephant Exhibit Opening Draws 6,600+ to Nashville Zoo.
(2005, April 11). Retrieved 10/15/2005 from
http://nashville.bizjournals.com/nashville/stories/2005/04/11/daily6.html
Species Survival Plan. (2005). Retrieved 10/14/2005 from
http://www.nashvillezoo.org/ssp.htm.
