New elephant comes to Zoo Atlanta

On Wednesday a new player joined the herd at Zoo Atlanta when the African bull elephant Msholo was welcomed into the zoo's brand-new African Savanna exhibit.

The 11,000-pound Msholo joins Kelly and Tara, two female elephants who have been at the zoo since 1986. The females are “closely bonded social companions,” which means it may take a while to introduce them to their new roommate.

Aside from a brief period in the 1960s, the zoo has only housed female elephants. Males are much larger, and require different care.

In preparation, members of the Zoo Atlanta elephant care team traveled to other zoos for additional training, and traveled to San Diego to meet and spend time with Msholo. Also, two members of the team that cared for Msholo in San Diego are in Atlanta, helping the 30-year-old male become accustomed to his new surroundings

According to Zoo Atlanta his name is pronounced “mi-SHOW-low.” His acquisition was made possible by the dramatically expanded elephant habitat in the African Savanna exhibit, and the new Zambezi Elephant Center.

July 14, 2019 Atlanta - Zoo Atlanta is on the verge of a transformation unmatched since the 1980s. In that decade, with the help of a $25 million renovation, the attraction went from a city’s embarrassment to a much-lauded exemplar of intelligent and humane design.This summer the zoo will take another giant leap forward when it opens the first phase of a $50 million expansion. In the next few weeks — the timing is still up in the air — visitors will be welcomed into the new African Savanna elephant habitat, a 103,000 square foot grassy park which will triple the amount of room available to the zoo’s two female elephants, Kelly and Tara. - Bo Emerson The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The new facility is triple the size of the old elephant habitat, and the indoor space has room for seven elephants. Because males tend to be kept separately, the old habitat would not have had room for a bull.

Msholo, who is 30 years old, will be kept off exhibit for a while as he acclimates and is introduced to Kelly and Tara, who are each 36 years old. The African Savanna exhibit is still under construction and will open to the public Aug. 8.

“There is not a plan to breed these elephants,” said spokesperson Rachel Davis. “The hope is that Msholo will be a social companion for Kelly and Tara. A primary goal of the creation of the new African Savanna was to provide an enlarged and socially and physically enriching new home for Kelly and Tara.”

Credit: Ken Bohn

Credit: Ken Bohn

Davis said that the zoo’s veterinarians have kept tabs on the reproductive health of Kelly and Tara and they don’t consider the two females candidates for breeding due to their age.

The zoo will continue to consult with the Association of Zoos & Aquariums to see how Atlanta can contribute to the Species Survival Plan for elephants.

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