UTAH

Utah’s Hogle Zoo pauses elephant care to maximize reproduction opportunities

May 2, 2023, 3:38 PM

Zuri is pictured on the left and Christie is on the right side. (Photo credit: Utah's Hogle Zoo)...

Zuri is pictured on the left and Christie is on the right side. (Photo credit: Utah's Hogle Zoo)

(Photo credit: Utah's Hogle Zoo)

SALT LAKE CITY —  Christie and Zuri, the elephants at Utah’s Hogle Zoo, will soon be saying goodbye to Utah. They will be relocated for a better opportunity to continue their multigenerational herd. The news will pause the zoo’s continuous care of elephants which dates back more than 100 years. 

The decision came after the zoo’s evaluation of the current habitat of Christie, 36, and daughter Zuri, 13.

Utah’s Hogle Zoo CEO, Doug Lund, said moving the elephants will give them a better chance at birthing a calf. Although the zoo’s nationally-recognized elephant care team trained Zuri for voluntary artificial insemination, she has not become pregnant. And to bring a male counterpart to Utah would take years of expanding the current living space for the elephants. 

According to a release from the zoo, by the time an expansion would be complete, Zuri could lose her prime reproductive window. 

Where are the elephants going?

The two elephants will be moved to another Association of Zoos and Aquarium, AZA, accredited zoo. Since 1979, the Hogle Zoo has been AZA credited. 

Fewer than 10% of zoos across the nations have this credential. 

“As a committed partner to the AZA Species Survival Plan, we often receive and move animals between accredited zoos for genetically diverse breeding purposes, like the move of Amur leopard male, Skye, last September,” said Lund.

The Hogle Zoo is coordinating with the AZA African Elephant Species Survival Plan to find the best fit and to allow Christie and Zuri to thrive together. Furthermore, the animal care team is working with both elephants to prepare them for transport to their new location. 

In a press release, Dan Ashe, president and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, assured the public that this decision is best for the wellbeing of both elephants. 

And Ashe praised the zoo for making the decision to put the elephant’s best interest above all else. 

“The Hogle Zoo community should be proud of the courageous leadership the zoo is showing in making this difficult choice,” Ashe said. 

The release said the transition will likely take place this upcoming fall. 

This news comes at a vital time as the world’s African elephant population has declined from 1.1 million in the 1970s to around 450,000 today. An estimated 100 elephants are killed every day, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums said. 

History of elephants in Utah

Princess Alice, named after President Roosevelt’s daughter Alice, was the first elephant to live in Utah. She arrived in 1916 and lived at what used to be a zoo located in Liberty Park.

She was an Asian elephant born in 1884. Princess Alice died in 1953.

Her journey to Utah began when the children of Salt Lake joined forces to purchase her from the Sells Floto Circus

According to the SLC History webpage, Princess Alice would escape and wander the streets of Salt Lake City.

Due to her frequent escapes, Alice moved from the park zoo to what is now known as Utah’s Hogle Zoo in 1931. She remained at the Hozle Zoo for the rest of her life. 

During her time there, she birthed four offspring: Baby Hutch, Baby Tambon, Little Miracle, and Prince Utah, according to the Elephant encyclopedia and database

 

Princess Alice (Photo credit: Digitized by J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah)

Princess Alice and one of her babies. (Photo credit: Digitized by J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah)

Related reading:

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Utah

a dog plays in the snow with its owner, dogs need extra protection in winter...

Emma Keddington

Winter protection for your dog: ‘Treat your dog like you’re treating yourself’

If you have a dog, you should make sure they have the same amount of winter protection you'd give yourself.

1 hour ago

a woman covers her face...

Associated Press

Study says the US is ill-prepared to ensure housing for the growing number of older people

The 58-year-old lost his job as a machine operator, then his home, and he was living in his truck when he was diagnosed with stage 2 lung cancer.

3 hours ago

lori vallow daybell pictured, she faces murder charges in arizona...

Sam Herrera

Lori Vallow Daybell extradited to Arizona to face murder charges

Lori Vallow Daybell faces charges in Arizona that allege she killed her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, and tried to kill her niece's ex-husband.

5 hours ago

Image of a Cessna 172G aircraft that crashed in the mountains east of Provo on Nov. 14, 2023, killi...

Adam Small and Simone Seikaly

Survivor says pilots were avoiding Provo airspace before fatal crash

On Nov. 14, Evan Backers and Collin Niemela died when their plane flew into the mountainside near Kyhv Peak, in Slate Canyon. 

6 hours ago

Festival of Trees Tamra Rachol...

Amie Schaeffer

How the Festival of Trees embodies hope and healing for a domestic violence survivor

Tamra Rachol, a domestic violence survivor, views the Festival of Trees as an opportunity to bring hope and attention to important issues.

9 hours ago

FILE - An aerial view of Timpanogos Highway. (Scott G. Winterton/Deseret News)...

Allessandra Harris

UDOT hosts public meetings about Timpanogos Highway extension

The Utah Department of Transportation has been conducting an environmental study into the potential of a Timpanogos Highway extension. On Wednesday, UDOT will host its second open meeting. 

9 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Human hand holding a protest banner stop vaping message over a crowded street background....

Prosperous Utah Communities

Utah’s Battle to Protect Youth from Vaping Epidemic Faces New Threat as Proposed Rule Threatens Progress

Utah's strict standards of nicotine levels in vaping products are at risk, increasing health hazards associated with use. Read more about how you can advocate for a better future for Utah's youth.

Aerial photo of Bear Lake shoreline with canopies and people camped out on the beach...

Visit Bear Lake

Last-Minute Summer Vacation Planning? Check Out Bear Lake!

Bear Lake is the perfect getaway if you are last-minute summer vacation planning. Enjoy activities with your whole family at this iconic lake.

Utah’s Hogle Zoo pauses elephant care to maximize reproduction opportunities