Elephant Trek opens to the general public on October 1, 2024!
CINCINNATI, OH (September 18, 2024) – Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Backyard’s much-anticipated Harry and Linda Fath Elephant Trek is about to open to the general public on October 1, 2024. Donors that made the biggest enterprise within the Zoo’s 149-year historical past potential loved a sneak preview of the elephant habitat and new occasion house final night time, and members will get an opportunity to do the identical the weekend earlier than Elephant Trek opens to the general public.
“Linda and I couldn’t be extra thrilled to see the elephant herd thriving of their new house,” stated Harry Fath, whose beneficiant lead donation made Elephant Trek potential. “It’s necessary to us that future generations get the prospect to see and be impressed by these superb creatures. The work that Cincinnati Zoo does to look after elephants right here and in Asia is one thing that we’re proud to help. In brief, our motivation for this reward was to present a present to the residents of Better Cincinnati.”
The herd that can name Elephant Trek dwelling consists of bull elephant Sabu, females Anuk, SheRa, Jati, Mai Thai, and Schottzie, and two younger males, Kabir and Sanjay. The hope is that Sabu will sire calves with the youthful females. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium introduced earlier this month that two of their females are pregnant because of Sabu’s short-term keep there, so the Cincinnati crew is optimistic that breeding makes an attempt will likely be profitable right here too.
The elephants have entry to a number of inside areas within the Farmer Household Basis Elephant Heart in addition to to 3 out of doors yards. This versatile design permits the elephant keeper crew to handle the herd as a complete or as people. It’s also useful throughout the introduction section, which requires the power to separate teams and continues to be in progress. Friends will have the ability to view elephants in and out.
Guests will likely be transported into a unique world as quickly as they enter Elephant Trek via the Komminsk Asian Waterfall Backyard. The Asian-themed landscaping all through the habitat was designed to imitate the pure setting discovered within the forests of Southeast Asia and consists of vegetation that develop there and others which can be native to the Cincinnati space, corresponding to Catalpa, however resemble these discovered internationally.
The most effective spots to soak up the great thing about the habitat are from The Brynne and Robert Coletti Overlook, which is positioned on high of the Elephant Heart and will be booked for personal occasions, the Western & Southern Monetary Fund Picnic Pavilion, The Amy and George Joseph Terrace, and The Mary and Scott Farmer Balcony.
Meals choices embrace the brand new Trunk Cease, Mai Thai’s Market, and The Grove Meals Courtroom Dropped at you by Mr. And Mrs. James W. Kinder Sr.
Section 2 of Elephant Trek will open within the spring of 2025 and can embrace habitats for siamangs, babirusa, rhinoceros hornbills, and small-clawed otters.
Section 1 of Elephant Trek opens to the general public on October 1. Members are invited to preview the habitat on September 27 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., and September 28th and 29th from 9 a.m – 5 p.m. There is no such thing as a further price to enter Elephant Trek, and members can go to as usually as they like. The Zoo is open every day from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Members take pleasure in early entry beginning at 9 a.m.
DID YOU KNOW…. You pay greater than $10 much less per ticket, on choose days, while you buy tickets on-line! That’s a $40 financial savings for a household of 4!
Asian Elephant Conservation
In keeping with the Worldwide Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Pink Listing of Threatened Species™, Asian elephants are listed as Endangered of their native vary throughout southern and southeastern Asia. Elephant populations are in decline as a result of varied components together with habitat loss/degradation and poaching. The Worldwide Elephant Basis (IEF) estimates there are 40,000-50,000 Asian elephants remaining.
Cincinnati Zoo is dedicated to defending Asian elephants within the wild and is a pacesetter within the Affiliation of Zoos and Aquariums’ Saving Animals From Extinction (AZA SAFE) Asian Elephant Program, an AZA initiative to leverage collective experience to guard species’ future. Be taught extra about Cincinnati Zoo’s Asian elephant conservation efforts right here.
