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• Pachyderm Forest Exhibit

Estimated Completion Date:
November 2009

Addressing the critical needs of our largest mammals, the Pachyderm Forest exhibit will benefit our Asian elephant collection.  With more than six acres — nearly seven times the size of our current elephant space —this exhibit will be one of the largest of any urban zoo in the country and will be the largest and most expensive exhibits at the LA Zoo at a cost of nearly $40 million.  This exhibit will set the standard for zoo management of these endangered species through providing the highest level of husbandry and veterinary care and the ability for elephants to care for themselves with minimal staff interaction. The visitor experience will provide information on human impact on elephants in the wild as well as providing opportunities for up-close encounters with the elephants and their keeper staff. 

With six distinct asian-inspired gateways to view the exhibit, the Pachyderm Forest  will accommodate our elephants’ physical needs, including three interconnected  exhibit yards that will  allow for rotation of the elephants from one to the next.  In this way, keepers will have the ability to care for different herd compositions of males and females, both young and old.  The new exhibit will have facilities for behavior enrichment, record keeping and a dedicated area for dietary and nutrition programs.  State-of-the-art equipment, such as a specialized ultra-sound unit and a walk-through articulated squeeze for keeper and animal-safe elephant examinations will be a new feature.  Additionally, waterfalls for washing and playing, waterholes for bathing, a variety of natural surfaces for walking and standing that will promote foot and joint care, and natural topographic and planted environments will stimulate exploration for elephants day and night.

Visitors will be able to get close enough to understand how truly impressive elephants are, and the journey through this exhibit  will make clear the educational value of elephants and how we can make a difference in the world by caring for them.

Please click here to read more about Zoo construction on the Los Angeles Zoo Bond and Capital Improvement Program page.