OKLAHOMA CITY — A pair of Asian elephants from Seattle is adjusting to life in Oklahoma City after a high-tension transfer, a temporary quarantine and some pachyderm posturing, according to zookeepers.
Oklahoma City Zoo elephant supervisor Nick Newby told The Oklahoman that females Bamboo and Chai from Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo got to mingle with the other elephants for the first time last week. The Seattle elephants had been quarantined for 30 days after arriving May 13 and have since been slowly integrated to the Oklahoma herd: adults Asha and Chandra and youngsters Malee and Achara.
“The main thing we’re looking for are behavioral markers,” Newby said. “We want them to sniff each other and touch their trunks. If there’s any pushing and shoving, we want to see how they’re doing it, and who is doing it, with the barrier in place so we know what to look for when there is no barrier.”
Staffers from the Seattle zoo have been on hand to help with the introductions. They have helped decipher body language.
