| | |  Americas & Beyond | August 2008 
Jenny The Elephant To Remain In Dallas
 CBS News
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| | Dallas Zoo will build new African habitat, bring at least 1 more elephant. | | |
Dallas - The Dallas Zoo has announced that Jenny the elephant will remain in Dallas. The zoo plans to create a new elephant habitat and will bring a new African elephant to serve as Jenny's companion.
"This plan serves Jenny's best interests and continues to provide children and adults in Dallas with the opportunity to experience the majesty of elephants," explained Gregg Hudson, executive director of the Dallas Zoo and The Dallas Aquarium at Fair Park.
Officials said The City of Dallas and the Dallas Zoological Society will accelerate construction on a new African Savanna, which was already in the planning stages since early 2006.
Crews will speed up construction of Phase I to accommodate an approximate four-acre elephant habitat, a news release noted. Phase I is estimated to be finished within 15 -18 months.
The zoo set aside $10 million from the 2006 bond to construct the habitat.
"The 2006 bond funding, combined with the support of the Dallas Zoological Society is enabling us to create a new home for Jenny in half the time that was originally forecasted," said Paul Dyer, director of Dallas City Parks and Recreation.
AZA-accredited Africam Safari in Puebla, Mexico, was the original choice for Jenny's new home.
"We support the decision to keep Jenny at the Dallas Zoo," said Amy Camacho, director of Africam Safari. "We know Africam would have provided excellent care for Jenny and conservation knows no boundaries. We look forward to future partnerships with the Dallas Zoo."
The new elephant habitat will be at least 15 times larger than the Dallas Zoo's current elephant exhibit, zoo officials said, adding they are looking into bringing additional elephants for a future habitat.
Jenny's most recent companion, Keke, died in May. The average life expectancy of elephants is 34. Jenny is 32 and Keke's death sparked a slew of responses about the zoo's lone surviving elephant.
Protestors who wanted Jenny sent to Tennessee, however, are not happy the elephant will stay in at the Dallas Zoo.
Gathering at City Hall for a pre-scheduled protest Wednesday, they stressed the animal needs to be in the sanctuary because a year and a half to two years is too long to wait for completion of the new area.
The group applauded leaders for speeding up the project, but said with Jenny's age and special problems, her current quarters are too small and outdated.
When complete, the African Savanna will house elephants, giraffe, lions, warthogs and other African animals, the zoo said.
The project will cost an estimated $40 million and was originally scheduled for completion in late 2011.
Amid the controversy, two weeks ago, the Dallas City Council overturned the Dallas Zoo's decision to send the elephant to Mexico and told zoo officials they would have to come up with a new plan.
Recently, a Mexican animal rights group sent representatives to explain why the zoo should not send Jenny to Mexico.
The group came armed with a YouTube video - reportedly taken at the Mexican zoo – showing elephants swaying from side to side. Animal activists say that's a sign of anxiety or distress.
"The animal welfare standards in Mexico are 80 years behind," said Monica Pineda, Gente Por La Defensa Animale. |
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