Asian elephant Samson has a new home at the Oregon Zoo

Zoo pachyderm family is four tons bigger with arrival of new male from Albuquerque

Portland's prodigious pachyderm family just got four tons bigger. Samson, a 19-year-old Asian elephant from ABQ BioPark Zoo in Albuquerque, N.M., arrived in town last night and caregivers are eager to welcome the extra-large newcomer into the Oregon Zoo herd.

Keepers hope Samson can serve as a "big brother" to the Oregon Zoo's young male, Samudra, who turns 10 this year and has begun to demonstrate adult behavior.

"We're very excited to have two Sams here," said Bob Lee, the zoo's elephant curator. "The timing is great because our young male, Samudra, is maturing into an adult bull, and he could benefit from the companionship of an older male."

In a natural setting, Lee said, adult male elephants are not permanent members of family herds. The majority of their time spent with females is for courtship and breeding, and the rest of the time, they live apart, sometimes forming bachelor herds.

Lee is hopeful that Samson also will hit it off with Rose-Tu — mom to both Samudra and Lily — perhaps adding to the population of this highly endangered species.

"Over the years, we've learned the importance of family and connection as a critical part of an elephant's full social life," Lee said. "Belonging to a multigenerational family and participating in the raising of young — with male elephants coming in and out of the herd at different times — stimulates and motivates each member of the herd physically, emotionally and psychologically."

Samson will remain behind the scenes for a month or so before caregivers gradually begin acquainting him with Samudra, Rose-Tu and the rest of the herd. A date for Samson's public debut has not been set, but visitors should be able to see him in Elephant Lands by May.

Samson was born May 4, 1998, at African Lion Safari in Ontario, Canada, and moved to ABQ BioPark in 2003. His transfer to Portland was recommended by the Species Survival Plan for Asian elephants, a cooperative program aimed at supporting socially stable families and maintaining a sustainable, genetically diverse elephant population at facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

The Oregon Zoo is recognized worldwide for its Asian elephant program, which has spanned more than 60 years. Considered highly endangered in their range countries, Asian elephants are threatened by habitat loss, conflict with humans and disease. It is estimated that just 40,000 to 50,000 elephants remain in fragmented populations from India to Borneo. The zoo supports a broad range of efforts to help wild elephants, and has established a $1 million endowment fund supporting Asian elephant conservation.