Cincinnati Zoo Welcomes New Elephant

Raja, a 10,000-pound male elephant, arrived at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden on Thursday. He transferred from the St. Louis Zoo following a breeding recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Asian Elephant Species Survival Plan. The group manages elephant populations across member institutions to ensure genetic diversity.

Christina Gorsuch, the zoo’s director of animal care, said Raja has sired several calves during his time in St. Louis. She noted that the zoo hopes he will bond with the two female elephants currently in the herd, Anak and Yasmin, who is also known as She-Ra. The females have been housed with Cincinnati’s current bull, Sabu, for more than two years. During that period, Sabu showed little interest in breeding with them.

The Species Survival Plan also recommended moving a different bull to St. Louis. Additionally, the plan calls for transferring two young males, Sanjay and Kabir, from Cincinnati to another AZA zoo. Zoo officials expect that move to occur sometime in December.

Visitors can view Raja and the rest of the herd in the Elephant Trek exhibit. The zoo stated that visibility may be limited during initial introductions between the animals. The facility remains open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.