Oregon Zoo’s beloved elephants getting more room to roam

While the Elephant Lands project is one of the largest changes in store, a series of additional improvements, using sustainable practices, are scheduled in the coming years. The projects are paid for by a $125 million bond measure passed by Portland Metro-area voters in 2008.

With an area more than four times the size of the current facility, Elephant Lands is expected to provide the lively animals with more choice and freedom to stay active and socialize. The current Lilah Callen Holden Elephant Museum will also be torn down and replaced with Forest Hall, the indoor exhibition portion of Elephant Lands.

Elephant curator Bob Lee said the new addition will address the needs of the zoo’s eight Asian elephants: Packy, Samudra, Rama, Tusko, Rose-Tu, Chendra, Sung-Surin and Lily.

Aside from being a crowd pleaser at the Oregon Zoo, 51-year-old Packy was the first elephant to be born in the Western Hemisphere in 44 years.

One of the largest recorded male Asian elephants weighing in at about 12,500 pounds, Packy will get to experience the new state-of-the art enclosure designed by elephant curation staff, a core group of veterinarians, architectural designers and Mike Keele, former deputy zoo director, who recently retired from his position.

“I think the inspiration for everyone was what would benefit the elephants the most,” Lee said.

Lee has worked with the zoo since 1999 and spends just about as much time with the elephants as he does his kids, he joked.

“It’s just like being here with your family,” he said.

When asked what is his favorite part of working with the elephants each day, Lee quickly answered: “The personal relationships.” When he first met Rose-Tu, he could see just over her back, he said. Not anymore, he laughed.

The enclosure will largely expand the area for the elephants to roam and stay active, he said. Elephant Lands will feature more than 20 automatic feeding stations, elephant-controlled showers, mud wallows and additional water features.

The elephants need exercise and the ability to make their own decisions, he said. It is important for them to develop their minds and social structures. In the wild, he said, the elephants are constantly challenged 24 hours a day.

Staff workers always are looking to provide the animals with more choices, he said.

“The greatest thing for me is to watch these guys have self-determination over their day,” Lee said. “To see that blown up on a massive scale is most rewarding.”

Projects at the Oregon Zoo

Elephant Lands: Opens summer 2015.

Condors of the Columbia: Opens spring 2014.

Zoo Education Center: Coming in 2016.

Polar bear habitat: Coming in 2017.

Primate habitat: Coming in 2018.

Rhino habitat: Coming in 2019.

You can help

The Oregon Zoo Foundation launched a $3 million Campaign of Elephants to support the zoo’s vision for Elephant Lands and is accepting donations.

For more information, call the Oregon Zoo Foundation at 503-220-5707.

If you go

Where: The Oregon Zoo, 4001 S.W. Canyon Road, Portland.

Hours: Open every day of the year, except Dec. 25. Summer hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; grounds are open until 7 p.m. from May 25 to Sept. 2.

Cost: Members and ages 2 and younger, free; ages 3 to 11 pay $8.50; ages 12 to 64, $11.50; ages 65 and older, $10. On the second Tuesday of each month, tickets are $4.

Transportation: Parking is $4 per vehicle. You can get $1.50 off the price of admission if you take the bus or light rail to the zoo and show proof of ridership.

Information: http://www.oregonzoo.org/visit/hours-admission-special-offers

An Inside Look

For zoogoers, Forest Hall, will allow for an up-close view and panoramic display of the elephants, according to the zoo’s website, www.oregozoo.org. The indoor exhibition will also feature the history of the human-elephant relationship over the past 5,000 years around the world.

New interactive technology is also planned for the exhibition and is currently in the planning process, said Elephant Curator Bob Lee.

With the new exhibition, visitors will be able to better understand the level of care it takes to maintain the livelihood of the elephants, he said.