Two new elephants could join Lilac, Genny C at zoo

Jill Terreri -Democrat and Chronicle

Genny C and Lilac are used to being the stars of the Seneca Park Zoo’s elephant habitat, but they may soon have some competition.

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums is requiring the zoo, and all member zoos with elephants, to have at least three of the animals to enhance their socialization.

To prepare for an additional elephant or two, the zoo is requesting $1 million in Monroe County’s capital improvement plan for 2010-2015.

The request is one of many contained in the plan, which totals $493 million and covers departments across the county, from the airport to the water authority.

Genny C and Lilac at Seneca Park Zoo's elephant exhibit could be getting a friend or two under an explansion plan. (JEN RYNDA staff photographer)

If the plan is approved by the County Legislature, the zoo would design new interior holding stalls in 2010, build in 2011 and be prepared to accept the new residents as early as 2012.

“It’s entirely interior work,” said County parks director Lawrence Staub Jr. “The look of the elephant exhibit would not change.”

The exhibit wouldn’t get bigger, as the funds would allow the existing inside space to be configured to hold two new elephants.

The zoo would be in danger of losing its AZA accreditation in four years when its current accreditation expires if it does not have the space to accommodate another elephant. The zoo would not lose its accreditation, however, if there isn’t an elephant available to accept, Staub said.

The elephant habitat was expanded in 2006 at a cost of $4.4 million to accommodate a calf that died during birth, but construction of the holding area was postponed until the gender of the new elephant was known. Once the calf died, the new stalls, used to give elephants refuge from the elements and a place to sleep, were not constructed.

The cost of caring for a new elephant wasn’t immediately available, but zoo director Larry Sorel said they eat mostly hay, and new staff won’t be needed.

Genny C and Lilac are the zoo’s own, but the new elephant will be part of the zoo association’s species survival program, which means the zoo won’t pay for the animal aside from transportation and its care once it arrives.

Sorel expects the new elephant to be a young male or an older female that can no longer breed. A breeding pair isn’t likely for a long time, if ever, he said.

Introducing a new elephant to Genny C and Lilac — longtime zoo residents — will require a lot of work from the zoo staff.

“You don’t just open the door one day and everyone gets along,” Sorel said.

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