Elephants Return to Oklahoma City Zoo

News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Asian elephants Asha and Chandra have returned to the Oklahoma City Zoo after more than two years at the Tulsa Zoo.

"The trip from Tulsa to Oklahoma City went smoothly and the girls enjoyed fruit, vegetables and hay during the ride home," said Oklahoma City Zoo Veterinarian, Dr. Jennifer D'Agostino. "Some nervousness is to be expected but the girls arrived safe and sound."

The two were sent to Tulsa in June 2008 to breed with male elephant Sneezy as part of a national elephant breeding plan.

The plan worked. Asha is pregnant and due in May and as of last month, Chandra wasn't, but zookeepers will probably know next week if Chandra and Sneezy's last breeding attempt was successful.

The two will move into their new home- but won't be on exhibit to public until this spring, when their new habitat will be finished. Their living quarters are complete, but the exhibit as a whole is not finished. The exhibit will include a new three and a half acre exhibit and elephant barn that is about 10 times larger than their old yard and home.

The new exhibit will be large enough to hold up to six adult elephants plus offspring.

The new habitat will be one of the five largest elephant exhibits in the country with a price tag totaling $13 million.