Utah's Hogle Zoo
Elephant Updates
After a comprehensive evaluation, Utah’s Hogle Zoo has made the decision to pause its continuous care of elephants that spans more than 100 years. Mom, Christie, 36, and daughter, Zuri, 13, will move to another Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoo where opportunities for them to grow their family may increase.
Utah’s Hogle Zoo is progressing through an exciting and transformational planning process to help ensure we meet the changing needs of our community and the complex needs of animals in the zoo’s care. We have talked to many professionals, consultants, community members and our staff as we carefully assessed what is best for all our animals, including elephants Christie and Zuri. The ultimate choice to move Christie and Zuri is to provide them both the best chance to have a calf in the important social dynamic of a multigenerational herd.
What does this decision mean for the zoo?
Princess Alice the elephant came to Hogle Zoo nearly 100 years ago and we have had elephants ever since. Our guests love elephants and connecting with these incredible animals here. We have keepers who are at the top of their field and have dedicated their careers to Christie and Zuri’s care since Zuri was a baby. Many experts and animal keepers all weighed in on this decision and believe it is the best thing for them. The elephants will be missed by the staff and by our guests and community.
It is an exciting time at Utah’s Hogle Zoo with a master plan underway and the new Wild Utah expansion opening next spring to evaluate the use of all 42 acres.
Elephant Conservation
Zoos’ focus on species care and conservation is more important than ever. The world’s African elephant population declined from 1.1 million in the 1970s to approximately 450,000 today, with an estimated 100 elephants killed every day. Utah’s Hogle Zoo, with the support of the community, has funded worldwide conservation projects to secure important habitats, build ranger stations in East Africa, and form anti-poaching scouting teams.
Why are they leaving?
The zoo has strived to provide the elephants with offspring and the social dynamic benefit of living in a multigenerational herd. Our nationally-recognized elephant care team accomplished the first voluntary artificial insemination of an African Elephant using protected contact and positive reinforcement-based training; however, the process has been unsuccessful primarily due to few sample options and low motility post-travel.
As a committed partner to the AZA Species Survival Plan®, we often receive and move animals between accredited zoos for genetically diverse breeding purposes, like the move of Amur leopard male, Skye, last September. The process is guided by what is best for animal wellbeing, guest impact, and the most effective way to contribute to saving wildlife.
To bring a male (bull) to Utah, the 42-acre zoo would need to invest in indoor and outdoor space. This expansion would take years and significant space, while potentially losing the prime reproductive window for Zuri.
Will Elephants Return?
The master plan will include many conversations, as well as a review costs and topography to weigh all the opportunities for the animals in our care and what animals we could have come to Utah. With our rich history in caring for elephants, Utah’s Hogle Zoo will always support elephant conservation and education through ticket sales and our worldwide partnerships.
Through the master planning we will determine if it is feasible and in the best interest to have elephants return to Utah’s Hogle Zoo one day. We will explore this possibility alongside the animal wellbeing and impact to opportunities for additional space and other animal needs.
Your questions answered
While the exact date of transfer is still to be determined, we anticipate Christie and Zuri will move by this fall. We are coordinating with the AZA African Elephant Species Survival Plan® to set criteria and identify where Christie and Zuri will best thrive together in a multigenerational herd and have the potential to reproduce at another AZA accredited zoo. The animal care team will be working with the elephants to prepare them for voluntary, healthy transport to their new location as swiftly and carefully as possible. The public should follow updates on hoglezoo.org and @hoglezoo.
The decision to move African elephants Christie and Zuri to another accredited zoo is to give them the opportunity to join a larger herd and have offspring within their prime reproductive windows. This is a tremendously emotional decision and the right decision for Christie and Zuri.
Princess Alice the elephant came to Hogle Zoo nearly 100 years ago and we have had elephants ever since. Our guests love elephants and connecting with these incredible animals here. We have keepers who are at the top of their field and have dedicated their careers to Christie and Zuri’s care since Zuri was a baby. Many experts and animal keepers all weighed in on this decision and believe it is the best thing for them. The elephants will be missed by the staff and by our guests and community.
It is an exciting time at Utah’s Hogle Zoo with a master plan underway and the new Wild Utah expansion opening next spring to evaluate the use of all 42 acres.
Yes. Elephants thrive in larger, multigenerational herds. Christie and Zuri will go together to the AZA accredited zoo best suited for them and that has a compatible fertile male to breed.
We are working with the AZA African Elephant Species Survival Plan® to find the elephants a new home that will optimize their social and reproductive wellbeing. We have a set of criteria that must be met or exceeded, including a viable male for Zuri and Christie.
We are proud members of AZA and believe accredited zoos have a very important role in conserving animals in the wild. Approximately 100 wild elephants are killed each day and accredited zoos are working together to address this. When our millions of guests connect with the wildlife living in accredited zoos, they are inspired to take action. Every visit to an accredited zoo is an act of conservation. We are making this decision to help introduce Christie and Zuri into a place that will offer them the best opportunity to grow their herd at a zoo that meets or exceeds the standards that we currently provide them with here and shares our mission.
This was something we evaluated and considered through this lengthy process. Experts have evaluated our elephant exhibit and determined upgrades would be necessary before a bull elephant could live at Utah’s Hogle Zoo. The improvements would take significant time and investment, reducing Zuri’s prime reproductive time for offspring.
We evaluated and considered the decision through a lengthy process and with the input and support of many experts and animal care staff. The transfer is the best thing for Christie and Zuri’s reproductive opportunity and social dynamics in a multigenerational herd. They receive excellent care at Utah’s Hogle Zoo and have shown consistent signs of physical wellbeing and happiness here.
Our nationally-recognized elephant care team accomplished the first voluntary artificial insemination of an African Elephant using protected contact and positive reinforcement-based training; however, the process has been unsuccessful primarily due to few sample options and low motility post-travel. There is urgency in the timeframe for Zuri to reproduce during her prime years. While there is no guarantee, the social dynamics of a multigenerational herd may be a better environment for Zuri, and possibly Christie, to have calves.
We support the AZA Species Survival Plan® in accredited zoos to give that important connection with the world’s animals to guests who may not otherwise have that possibility.
Yes. Utah’s Hogle Zoo is among only 10% of North American zoos and aquariums who adhere to the highest accreditation standards. We regularly meet or exceed those standards as a high priority of our focus on animal wellbeing and respect. We have been working with AZA on a compliance variance to meet the multi-herd standard of three elephants while we worked to produce a baby for Zuri through artificial insemination. Experts have evaluated our elephant exhibit and determined changes would be necessary before a bull (male) elephant could live at Utah’s Hogle Zoo.
Through a master planning process, we are evaluating all areas of the zoo’s 42 acres and what will be best for the animals and guest experience and connection to wildlife. In the short-term, the white rhinos, George and Princess, may be able to expand into the space after the elephants move.
The master plan will include many conversations, as well as a review costs and topography to weigh all the opportunities for the animals in our care and what animals we could have come to Utah. With our rich history in caring for elephants, Utah’s Hogle Zoo will always support elephant conservation and education through ticket sales and our worldwide partnerships.
Through the master planning we will determine if it is feasible and in the best interest to have elephants return to Utah’s Hogle Zoo one day. We will explore this possibility alongside the animal wellbeing and impact to opportunities for additional space and other animal needs.
It is important to note that the wellbeing and opportunity for Christie and Zuri to join a larger herd within their reproductive windows is what is driving this decision. There are many factors we will be evaluating through the master planning of what to do with the space, including cost, opportunities, and overall guest impact and educational experience.
We have always appreciated the tremendous support of our state and community in connecting to wildlife and our care of animals. We are proud to meet and exceed animal care standards required by our AZA accreditation.
Utah’s Hogle Zoo animal keepers are among the best in the country and are an invaluable asset. This team was part of this decision and will be part of the master planning to evaluate the future of the space and what is best for animal care. The animal care team will be working with the elephants to prepare them for voluntary, healthy transport to their new location as swiftly and carefully as possible. We look forward to maintaining their expertise here at Utah’s Hogle Zoo.
Hogle Zoo has been a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and has been accredited since 1979. Fewer than 10 percent of USDA regulated zoos across the nation are AZA accredited. As an AZA member, we meet and exceed the highest standards in animal care, wellbeing, and facilities.
AZA continues to provide best practices and research into the wellbeing of animals in zoos, including elephants. The AZA elephant strategy taskforce is providing updated recommendations and we are proud to have been included in those conversations. For more information, please visit aza.org.
The zoo is coordinating with the AZA African Elephant Species Survival Plan® to set criteria and identify where Christie and Zuri will best thrive together in a multigenerational herd and have the potential to reproduce at another AZA accredited zoo. Utah’s Hogle Zoo has been AZA accredited since 1979. Fewer than 10 percent of zoos across the nation are AZA accredited. As an AZA member, Utah’s Hogle Zoo meets and exceeds the highest standards in animal care, welfare, and facilities. We have the support of the AZA in this decision.
The animal care team will be working with the elephants to prepare them for voluntary, healthy transport to their new location as swiftly and carefully as possible. While the exact date of transfer is still to be determined, the zoo anticipates Christie and Zuri will move by this fall. We hope to have you visit before their departure. We will keep you updated on social media @hoglezoo.