Philly elephants prepare for move to Pittsburgh zoo’s Somerset center

June 25th, 2009 • Related • Filed Under

By Allison M. Heinrichs
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Bette and Kallie, two 27-year-old African elephants at the Philadelphia Zoo, will move to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium’s International Conservation Center in Fairhope, Somerset County, “shortly after the July 4th weekend,” the Philadelphia Zoo announced today.

The Philadelphia Zoo is closing its elephant exhibit, while the Pittsburgh Zoo has been making improvements to the 724-acre conservation center, where it someday hopes to house several dozen elephants and create a breeding program.

“This is a major development in elephant conservation and zoo partnerships,” Vikram H. Dewan, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Zoo, said in a news release. “We are delighted to know that we’ve found an excellent home for our elephants so nearby and that they will play a key role in the success of the ICC and its global mission.”

This winter, Jackson, the Pittsburgh Zoo’s bull elephant became the first, and still only, elephant to go to the center, where he is housed in a 10,000-square-foot heated building capable of housing several elephants when they aren’t outside. The center is not open to the public, but the zoo plans to continue housing elephants for public viewing at its Highland Park facility.

The Philadelphia elephants will be moved in an 18-wheel trailer by a professional animal mover, according to the Pittsburgh Zoo. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia zoo staff will accompany the elephants on the trip, which is expected to take about four hours.

The Pittsburgh Zoo currently has eight elephants, including two female calves that turn 1 next month.