OKC ZOO CELEBRATES FOURTH ANNUAL ASIAN ELEPHANT AWARENESS MONTH (2024)

August 08, 2023

The Oklahoma City Zoo and BotanicalGarden, together with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and international elephant conservation partners, is proud to celebrate the fourth annual Asian Elephant AwarenessMonth. Since 2019,AsianElephant Awareness Month has inspired people around the world to get involved in elephant conservation and raiseawareness to the issues impacting Asian elephants.For the month of August,the OKC Zoo is inviting fans to postphotos and messages on social with #AsianElephantAwarnessMonth.In addition to this social media campaign, the OKC Zoo is pairing up with Capitals Ice Cream, located in Oklahoma City’s Midtown district, to raise funds for the Zoo’s Asian elephant conservation program and hosting World Elephant Day activities on Saturday, August 12, to further encourage guests to learn about the importance of protecting these magnificent animals.The OKC Zoo has been caring for and connecting people to elephants since Luna, the Zoo’s first Asian elephant arrived in 1930. Today, the Zoo is home to a multigenerational herd of eight Asian elephants including Rex (54), Asha (28), Chandra (27), Kandula (21), Bowie (9), Achara (8), Kairavi (4), and young calf, Rama (18 months).

The OKC Zoo works intensely with its worldwide partners to help conserve Asian elephants and their habitats. The largest land mammal on the Asian continent, Asian elephants are listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, facing urgent threats including habitat destruction, human-elephant conflict and poaching for tusks and skins, with wild populations falling below 50,000 individuals. The 13 range countries that provide natural habitat for Asian elephants are among the most densely populated areas of the world and, as a result, vital habitat for elephants has decreased by 90% in 40 years. Human-elephant conflict and palm oil productionare major threats for Asian elephants. Non-sustainable palm oil practices have led to rapid habitat loss, impacting elephants and many other species found in those same habitats.The OKC Zoo encourages fans to take action for wildlife conservation and purchase sustainable palm oil with the use of the sustainable palm oil shopping app available at https://bit.ly/WAZAPalmOilApp. Furthermore, Asian elephants are more susceptible than African elephants to elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV), a fast-moving elephant herpes virus that affects elephants in the wild and in human care with a 60% fatality rate.

Over the last two decades, the Zoo has contributed more than $450,000 to elephant-related conservation. The Zoo has supported a number of elephantconservation projects is Asia that protect habitat with boots-on-the-ground teams that work to mitigate human-elephant conflict, prevent poaching and habitat encroachment. The Zoo is currently leading research in Sri Lanka to better understand Asian elephant social relationships, land use and the impacts of tourism. Results from this research will help inform wild elephant management in Sri Lanka which has high levels human-elephant conflict. The OKC Zoo also proudly participatesin the AZA’s Species Survival Plan®(SSP) for Asian elephants and supports AZA’s SAFE: Saving Animals from Extinction program for Asian elephants and its strategic conservation education efforts.

Join the OKC Zoo in its month-long effort to bring attention to the importance of protecting and conserving Asian elephants and their habitat by supporting the following happenings.

• #AsianElephantAwarenessMonth Social Media Campaign / August 1 through 31: The #AsianElephantAwarenessMonth is an engaging campaign for elephant enthusiasts to share their love and support for Asian elephants on social media. OKC Zoo fans are encouraged to post their favorite pictures andvideos of the Zoo’s Asian elephant herd with the campaign hashtag, #AsianElephantAwarnessMonth and remember to tag us @okczoo. Stay tuned to the Zoo’s socials throughout the month for fun facts about each of our beloved Asian elephants.

• OKC Zoo and Capitals Ice Cream Partnering for Elephant Conservation/ August 1 through 31: The OKC Zoo is partnering with Capitals Ice Creamto support elephant conservation. Now through Thursday, August31, purchase Capitals’ signature ice cream flavor, “Strawberry Banelephant” and10% of proceeds from everysalewill be donated to the Zoo for Asian elephant conservation.Customers that purchase “Strawberry Banelephant” also have the opportunity toenter to win an OKC Zoo Asian elephant Wild Encounter experience for four people plus general Zoo admission. Entries must be made in-person at Capitals and the drawing will be held on September 4. Capitals Ice Cream is located inMidtown OKC at 1006 N. Hudson Avenue, Sweet #100.For store hours visit,www.capitalsicecream.com.

• World Elephant Day presented by Bob Moore Subaru / Saturday, August 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: World Elephant Day is Saturday, August 12and the Oklahoma City Zoo invites you to attend and show your love for these animals. Presented by Bob Moore Subaru, this special day is dedicated to raising awareness andattention to the issues facing Asian elephantsthrough event activities and #AsianElephantAwarewnessMonth social media campaign. Event goers will be able to participate in a variety of events includinginteractive activities for kids, story time, photo opportunities presented by Bob Moore Subaru, a free elephant presentation at 2 p.m., Facebook live chats and more.This event is free with zoo admission.

Let’s celebrate the OKC Zoo’s favorite Asian elephants (and all Asian elephants) this August! The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with the last entry at 4 p.m. Purchase advance Zoo admission tickets at okczoo.org/tickets and avoid the entry lines. Located at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35, the OKC Zoo is a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Alliance of Museums, Oklahoma City’s Adventure District and an Adventure Road partner. Regular admission is $16 for adults and $13 for children ages 3-11 and seniors ages 65 and over. Children two and under are admitted free. Stay connected with the Zoo on Facebook, X, Instagram, Linktree and TikTok, and by visiting our blog stories. Looking for a year of Zoo adventures? Consider a 12-month, ZOOfriends Membership Passport to the OKC Zoo providing general admission year-round and exclusive offers while supporting the Zoo’s ongoing animal care and conservation programs. Memberships can be purchased atokczoo.org/membership.

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