Two Elephants On The Move From Seattle To OKC Zoo

Two Asian elephants are making a big move from Seattle to Oklahoma City.

Thursday, April 16th 2015, 7:22 pm

By: News 9


Two Asian elephants are making a big move from Seattle to Oklahoma City.

Despite weeks of protest from animal rights activists, a federal appeals court declined to block their transfer. The Oklahoma City Zoo has been meticulously planning for the arrival of elephants Bamboo and Chai for months.

3/4/15 Related Story: Despite Protests, Seattle To Send Two Elephants To OKC Zoo

“Everybody's excited for them to come,” said Animal Supervisor Nick Newby.

Looks like the OKC elephants can't wait to meet their two new sister elephants from the Seattle Woodland Park Zoo.

Already on the road for more than a day, both girls Chai, 36, and Bamboo, 45, will be welcomed in Oklahoma City with loving arms.

So team members are wasting no time getting the 16,000 square foot house in order. The elephants will be taken first to the massive 11 bedroom stalls area, each fully furnished with a lot of sand.

“They each have their own sand pillow, and it's really important for elephants especially older animals, it's hard for them to get up from their sleeping position, so with sand piles, they'll actually have something that will help them,” said Animal Curator Laura Bottaro.

Currently there are four female elephants including one nearly 4-month old baby. The only male elephant Rex is 47 years and keeps to himself.

So, the new girls will have three outdoor habitats to choose from. One area has a 12-feet deep pool with log piles and much needed shade structures.

“These habitats are just so dynamic and so layered with enrichment activities to do during the day,” Newby said.

"Going out into the habitats having a good time socializing, swimming, playing with toys, foraging, looking for food, drinking as much water as they want and playing in the water."

The areas will have hanging feeders to mimic eating out of tree. It's a lot of space the traveling elephants will enjoy getting used to.

Once the two elephants finally get to Oklahoma City from Seattle, they will be quarantined for at least 30 days, which is standard for any zoo animal transfer in order to get the animal adjusted in their new environment.

All the elephants only spend about two hours inside each day. A typical day for the elephants consists of training, getting fed and bathed.

A team from the Woodland Park Zoo is traveling with the two elephants.

The zoo plans for the elephants to arrive by Friday and will provide News9 with pictures and video.

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