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Elephants challenge zoos in several aspects of their care. Their size and strength make it difficult to build safe yet aesthetically pleasing habitats. Their intelligence and complex social structures demand flexibility. Designing effective homes for elephants requires creative and innovative animal-care specialists who can think outside the box.
The Oregon Zoo renovated its elephant exhibit in 1993 and is again looking to expand. The elephants have an indoor area and two outdoor areas. Both outdoor areas have access to water. The front yard is filled with tons of sand, and the back yard is made up of both sand and grass. These surfaces provide a comfortable walking area for the herd. The floor of the indoor facility is covered with 2 inches of soft rubber made from recycled tires.
Outdoor Elephant Yards
The zoo’s two elephant yards provide a combined total of more than 34,000 square feet. The elephants spend more than 20 hours a day outside, so it is important that they have outdoor space to meet their needs. Both yards are visible to the public.
Front Sand Yard
The oval-shaped front sand yard is 8,500 square feet and features a swimming hole that allows the elephants to completely submerge. The elephants can also access an automatic shower at any time, and a shaded area lets them get out of the sun and cool off. (This sheltered area also features overhead heaters to keep the elephants warm in the winter.)
Sand throughout the yard provides a soft surface for the elephants to walk on and is much easier on their feet than packed dirt.
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