The Reid Park Zoo director should stop trying to use the AZA standard that Asian and African elephants must be kept separately. If that were true then Tembo, an African elephant at the San Diego Zoo wouldn't still be with the zoo's herd of Asian elephants at their Elephant Odessey exhibit. Also there is a good chance that Connie won't fit in or be accepted by the herd at SDZ, as all elephants have a position in the herd hierachy.
It will be interesting to see what elephants are sent from San Diego's Wild Animal Park since all but one of the elephants there were fathered by the same male. So to diversify the genetics to increase the population of zoo elephants, they would need to bring the other male elephant who hasn't sired any offspring to date. As well any females brought already have their hierachy established so Shaba would be the lowest and as it's been shown at the Wild Animal Park already the lowest female there is somewhat of a loner now.
I would have to agree with the majority of comments posted that either Reid Park keep the two elephants as they have their deep bond or send them to one of the two sanctuaries where they can have vast areas to live as elephants were intended to do.
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It will be interesting to see what elephants are sent from San Diego's Wild Animal Park since all but one of the elephants there were fathered by the same male. So to diversify the genetics to increase the population of zoo elephants, they would need to bring the other male elephant who hasn't sired any offspring to date. As well any females brought already have their hierachy established so Shaba would be the lowest and as it's been shown at the Wild Animal Park already the lowest female there is somewhat of a loner now.
I would have to agree with the majority of comments posted that either Reid Park keep the two elephants as they have their deep bond or send them to one of the two sanctuaries where they can have vast areas to live as elephants were intended to do.