The Elephant Family Receives New Home at the Oregon Zoo
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Friday, May 22, 2015
Briauna Skye McKizzie, GoLocalPDX Contributor
This week, the Oregon Zoo introduced Tusko and his Elephant Family to their new 32,000 square foot habitat.
This week, the Oregon Zoo introduced Tusko and his Elephant Family to their new 32,000 square foot habitat.
The 13,000 pound bull elephant didn’t take long to make himself at home, and he immediately settled down to a meal of his favorite fruits and vegetables.
The new home is called Elephant Lands and is the result of a $57 million construction project. Funded by the 2008 zoo bond measure, this is one of the biggest projects undertaken in the Oregon Zoo history.
Throughout the years, the Oregon Zoo has made huge strides in their mission to protect the endangered Asian elephant population. The fact that they’ve finished this amazing habitat is another great achievement that both the elephants and zoo caretakers are excited to be a part of.
“This is going to be huge. The transition has been going great so far. Tusko walked right over into the new building and has already started shifting through rooms,” said Bob Lee, the zoo’s elephant curator.
Click HERE to learn more about the habitat.
Related Slideshow: Nine Invasive Species Horror Stories At The Oregon Zoo
In honor of National Invasive Species Awareness Week the Oregon Zoo speaks to GoLocalPDX, to find out more about invasive species problems.
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Burmese Python
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Photo Credit: Oregon Zoo (image cropped)
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Red-Eared Slider
Red-Eared Slider’s are indigenous to the south central United States. These turtles are usually set free once owners grow tired of caring for them. They end up competing with native turtles, spreading parasites and disease. Help scientists track alien invaders by reporting turtle sightings on oregonturtles.com.
Photo Credit: Oregon Zoo (image cropped)
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American Bullfrog
Bullfrogs are native to the easter United States and threaten local wildlife when they escape from frog leg farms. In the Northwest region bullfrogs target western pond turtles and Oregon spotted frogs. The Oregon Zoo is currently working to improve the health of spotted frogs and pond turtles.
Find out how to support the zoo’s efforts through Wildlife Partners.
Photo Credit: Oregon Zoo (image cropped)
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Veiled Chameleon
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Photo Credit: Oregon Zoo (image cropped)
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Nutria (and Beaver)
The South American transplants have caused damage throughout the United States by eroding stream banks. You can see these large rodents in local natural areas like Smith and Bybee Wetlands.
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Photo Credit: Oregon Zoo (image cropped)
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Rainbow Trout
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Photo Credit: Oregon Zoo (image cropped)
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Nile Monitor
These creepy dragon looking lizards are native to Africa but have been seen in Florida’s West Palm Beach. They are good swimmers and can grow up to seven feet in length. They are often not recommend as pets because they are high maintenance. You can see these fascinating lizards at the Oregon Zoo.
Photo Credit: Oregon Zoo (image cropped)
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African Rock Python
The African Rock Python is Africa’s largest snake at 20-foot-long. The dangerous pythons have attacked and killed people in the past. The pythons constrict their prey because they lack venom. They python has also been colonizing in the United States in suburban Miami.
Photo Credit: Oregon Zoo (image cropped)
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Rabbit
The long floppy eared animal is a invasive species to Australia, as they are fruitful breeders. They also greedy eaters eating roots, tree bark, and leaves which are low in nutritional value. This is why they often reingest their feces to get extra nutritional value.
Photo Credit: Oregon Zoo (image cropped)
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