Menu
23/01/2009
Goodbye Circus, Hello Belfast, As New Elephants Join Zoo
One of Belfast Zoo's most iconic animals, 44-year-old Tina the elephant, will shortly be getting more company - some being former Big Top 'performers'.
Tina is being joined by other non-breeding female elephants to enjoy 'retirement' and the Zoo has confirmed that some of the elephants arriving in Belfast will be from a 'circus background'.
In preparation, an internationally respected elephant expert from California, Alan Roocroft, has flown in to work with the elephant team in preparation for the transition and challenges of elephant retirement.
Roocroft has over 46 years experience in managing elephants, including 19 years in the world famous, San Diego Wild Animal Park and Zoo.
He has conducted field studies on working elephants for the Sri Lankan and Thai governments, and further research on elephant conditions in the wild and in game reserves in Tanzania and Kenya.
"We want to create habitats for our elderly females," said Roocroft.
"I am using my knowledge to create an environment with more enrichment activity, and providing knowledge to the staff in Belfast on how to prepare for the new challenges associated with non-breeding elephants."
Roocroft's knowledge of elephants will result in the implementation of new animal enrichment techniques such as hanging feeders, sanded floors, and scratching stations that will stimulate reaching, climbing and digging.
Alyn Cairns, Curator of Elephants said: "The care of elephants is evolutionary and the techniques used to enhance elephant comfort in captivity are changing.
"Our decision to create a 'retirement home' for elephants was not taken lightl,"he said.
"Older elephants bring new challenges such as health management, behavioural patterns and training.
"When bringing these mammals together, assessment on elephant compatibility is essential, the judgement and knowledge of our keepers becomes ever more important when caring for animals in their later years."
In 2008 the zoo implemented a form of contact with elephants known as protective contact.
This gives elephant's complete freedom of movement within the confines of the enclosure.
It also allows the keepers to be safe in their job and provides optimum comfort for the elephants.
Therefore, a zoo keeper and elephant never share the same space and all contact is received through protective barriers.
(GK/BMcC)
Tina is being joined by other non-breeding female elephants to enjoy 'retirement' and the Zoo has confirmed that some of the elephants arriving in Belfast will be from a 'circus background'.
In preparation, an internationally respected elephant expert from California, Alan Roocroft, has flown in to work with the elephant team in preparation for the transition and challenges of elephant retirement.
Roocroft has over 46 years experience in managing elephants, including 19 years in the world famous, San Diego Wild Animal Park and Zoo.
He has conducted field studies on working elephants for the Sri Lankan and Thai governments, and further research on elephant conditions in the wild and in game reserves in Tanzania and Kenya.
"We want to create habitats for our elderly females," said Roocroft.
"I am using my knowledge to create an environment with more enrichment activity, and providing knowledge to the staff in Belfast on how to prepare for the new challenges associated with non-breeding elephants."
Roocroft's knowledge of elephants will result in the implementation of new animal enrichment techniques such as hanging feeders, sanded floors, and scratching stations that will stimulate reaching, climbing and digging.
Alyn Cairns, Curator of Elephants said: "The care of elephants is evolutionary and the techniques used to enhance elephant comfort in captivity are changing.
"Our decision to create a 'retirement home' for elephants was not taken lightl,"he said.
"Older elephants bring new challenges such as health management, behavioural patterns and training.
"When bringing these mammals together, assessment on elephant compatibility is essential, the judgement and knowledge of our keepers becomes ever more important when caring for animals in their later years."
In 2008 the zoo implemented a form of contact with elephants known as protective contact.
This gives elephant's complete freedom of movement within the confines of the enclosure.
It also allows the keepers to be safe in their job and provides optimum comfort for the elephants.
Therefore, a zoo keeper and elephant never share the same space and all contact is received through protective barriers.
(GK/BMcC)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
11 January 2008
New Visitor Centre For Belfast Zoo
Construction has begun on a new, £600,000 state of the art visitor centre at Belfast Zoo. The new entrance pavilion will include a new souvenir shop, pay-booths and payment systems, a covered walkway for wet weather shelter and a tourist exhibition space focussing on native and non-native wildlife.
New Visitor Centre For Belfast Zoo
Construction has begun on a new, £600,000 state of the art visitor centre at Belfast Zoo. The new entrance pavilion will include a new souvenir shop, pay-booths and payment systems, a covered walkway for wet weather shelter and a tourist exhibition space focussing on native and non-native wildlife.
06 January 2010
Cold Eye Turned On Zoo Animals
Belfast Zoo re-opened today as freezing conditions eased - only to close again shortly before noon as a blizzard enveloped eastern parts of NI. The news came as Zoo keepers began undertaking a complete head count of every animal as part of the facility's licensing regulations.
Cold Eye Turned On Zoo Animals
Belfast Zoo re-opened today as freezing conditions eased - only to close again shortly before noon as a blizzard enveloped eastern parts of NI. The news came as Zoo keepers began undertaking a complete head count of every animal as part of the facility's licensing regulations.
15 February 2006
Belfast Zoo to receive award
Belfast Zoo, in partnership with Queen's University's Scholl of Psychology, has today received a prestigious ward from the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ for ‘Best Research Project’. This is the highest award given by the BIAZA, and was given for the innovative research on ‘Auditory Enrichment for Zoo-housed Gorillas’.
Belfast Zoo to receive award
Belfast Zoo, in partnership with Queen's University's Scholl of Psychology, has today received a prestigious ward from the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ for ‘Best Research Project’. This is the highest award given by the BIAZA, and was given for the innovative research on ‘Auditory Enrichment for Zoo-housed Gorillas’.
03 October 2014
Red Squirrels Released Into Wild
Four red squirrels born at Belfast Zoo have been released into the wild at Glenarm estate in County Antrim. Zoo curator and chairperson of the Belfast Zoo native species group, Alyn Cairns, explained: "Here at the zoo, we care for and conserve a variety of endangered species from across the world.
Red Squirrels Released Into Wild
Four red squirrels born at Belfast Zoo have been released into the wild at Glenarm estate in County Antrim. Zoo curator and chairperson of the Belfast Zoo native species group, Alyn Cairns, explained: "Here at the zoo, we care for and conserve a variety of endangered species from across the world.
27 August 2001
Belfast Zoo reopens farm area
Belfast Zoo has reopened the rare breeds farm area for the bank holiday weekend after a prolonged period of closure. The zoo farm area, particularly popular with younger visitors, has been closed as part of the precautions taken at the zoo since the foot-and-mouth outbreak in February.
Belfast Zoo reopens farm area
Belfast Zoo has reopened the rare breeds farm area for the bank holiday weekend after a prolonged period of closure. The zoo farm area, particularly popular with younger visitors, has been closed as part of the precautions taken at the zoo since the foot-and-mouth outbreak in February.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Scattered sleet and snow showers will turn increasingly heavy and more frequent in the afternoon across the north. Largely dry with sunny spells in the south, but showers spreading here towards the end of the day. Maximum temperature 4 °C.Tonight:Frequent, often heavy showers of rain, sleet and snow will affect most parts this evening and overnight, but are likely to be most frequent across the northeast. Minimum temperature -1 °C.
