A bright future for baby

All of our lives were changed by the birth of Rose-Tu's second calf.

The outpouring of love from you, our community, was overwhelming.

Her birth also marks a profound turning point in our story. Rose-Tu's daughter will be the last elephant born in the front room, which has served as nursery for 28 baby elephants since 1962, when Packy was born.

We have learned more about elephants in the past 50 years than was known in the previous 5,000 years. Thanks to advancements in welfare, health and reproductive science, zoos now have a much better understanding of what it takes to protect the physical well-being of these giant creatures and to satisfy their social and behavioral needs.

When the zoo's visionary new elephant habitat – Elephant Lands– opens, Rose-Tu's calf will still be just a toddler.

She'll spend her youth exploring a variety of habitats and terrain, from rolling meadow to hilly forest. She'll have access to scratching surfaces, elephant-controlled showers, pools for bathing and mud wallows to cool and protect her skin.

Perhaps most importantly, she and the rest of her herd will have choices over how they spend their time and how they socialize with each other.

Our vision for the future of elephants includes generations of thriving family groups living in an enriching and natural environment with opportunities for the public to connect, learn and take action.

Our mission is to inspire visitors and our community to create a better future for wildlife and we do this by creating engaging, meaningful experiences to connect humans with animals.

Because of your support, Elephant Lands will set the standard for elephant management and care, and exemplify our community's commitment to animal welfare and sustainability.

Now there's something to consider next time you stare into that pretty face. 

Thank you for supporting a future with elephants.