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POWELL, OH – It’s official! Two elephants, Phoebe and Sunny, are confirmed pregnant and expecting calves next year, according to veterinarians at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. It’s the first time in the Zoo’s history that two elephants have been pregnant at the same time.
“This is a very exciting time for us as these pregnancies provide us with the opportunity to care for a multigenerational herd, which is beneficial for the elephants and their social dynamics. The upcoming births also provide fresh hope for Asian elephant conservation, helping to ensure a genetically diverse and healthy population of elephants in North American zoos. These efforts align with our global commitment, ensuring that Asian elephants are protected in the wild,” said Adam Felts, Senior Curator of Animal Care and Director of Animal Wellbeing.
Phoebe, who is the mother of 3-year-old Frankie, is a great, experienced mom. This is Sunny’s first pregnancy, so the team is cautiously optimistic but glad that she is experiencing it with Phoebe.
The father of both calves is Sabu, who recently returned to Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden after a temporary stay at Columbus Zoo during the construction of their Elephant Trek habitat. The breeding was recommended through the Species Survival Plan® (SSP), a program coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to maintain genetic diversity of threatened and endangered species in professional care.
The exciting announcement helps conclude Asian Elephant Awareness Month, celebrated worldwide in the month of August to recognize the threats facing this majestic species and the conservation efforts in place to protect them.
Elephant wellbeing is one of the Columbus Zoo’s top priorities. The elephants currently enjoy spacious habitats, including outdoor swimming pools, an indoor shower activated by the elephants, outdoor mud wallows, indoor sand floors, trees for rubbing and back-scratching, interactive feeding stations, and indoor-outdoor choice access throughout most of the year.
As the elephant herd is poised to grow in the new year, so will their outdoor habitat. The Zoo’s former rhino yard in the Asia Quest region is currently being renovated to provide extra room for the elephants. The project will be completed by the end of this October.
The new habitat will provide an additional 3,600 square feet and include:
- A new training panel near the guest tour space
- Modified pool
- Enrichment panels
- Hay nets
- Automatic hay release feeders
- A circular feeding area (dubbed the “Dining Table”), where multiple elephants can eat and socialize together
- Enhanced guest viewing opportunities
The Columbus Zoo’s elephant herd consists of five elephants: 23-year-old male Johnson, who recently arrived from African Lion Safari in Canada; 37-year-old female Phoebe, and sisters Sundara (Sunny, age 15) and Rudy (age 22); and Phoebe’s son, Frankie. Frankie is Phoebe’s fourth calf born at the Columbus Zoo and her fifth calf overall. The care team says that, with his energy and playfulness, Frankie will be a fantastic big brother.
The Animal Care and Conservation Medicine teams are monitoring the mothers-to-be closely and providing regular exams to ensure their comfort and wellbeing throughout the 22-month gestation period.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species™, Asian elephants are listed as Endangered in their native range across southern and southeastern Asia. Elephant populations are in decline due to various factors including habitat loss/degradation and poaching. The International Elephant Foundation (IEF) estimates there are 40,000-50,000 Asian elephants remaining.
The Columbus Zoo is deeply committed to working to save elephants in their native range and to contributing to a robust breeding program in North American zoos. The Zoo is a long-time supporter of several impactful Asian elephant organizations and programs such as the IEF. Many of these projects have focused on human-elephant coexistence and monitoring elephant populations in their native ranges. Additionally, Columbus Zoo staff leads the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Saving Animals From Extinction (AZA SAFE) Asian Elephant Program, an AZA initiative to leverage collective expertise to protect species’ future.
Recently, the Columbus Zoo also established the Center for Species Survival for Asian Elephant (CSS: Asian Elephant) in partnership with the Wildlife Trust of India and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission. Located in India, the Center is the world's first CSS conservation hub exclusively dedicated to a single species and uniquely located within the heart of the species' native range. Asian elephants face numerous threats across their 13 range countries. To counter these challenges, CSS: Asian Elephant partners build on their global connections and collaborate to address the threats that the countries have identified as conservation priorities.
For additional updates about the Columbus Zoo, conservation initiatives, events, and more, follow the Zoo’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok, and visit us at ColumbusZoo.org.
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About the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Home to more than 10,000 animals representing over 600 species worldwide, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium leads by making a positive impact on people, wildlife, and wild places. The Zoo complex is a recreational and educational destination that includes the 22-acre Zoombezi Bay water park and 18-hole Safari Golf Club. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium also manages The Wilds, a 10,000-acre conservation center and safari park located in southeastern Ohio. The Zoo is a wildlife conservation organization with regional, national and global impact, annually supporting conservation and research projects locally and worldwide. For more information, please visit ColumbusZoo.org.
