By Darla Shelden, Metropolis Sentinel Reporter —
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Metropolis Zoo and Botanical Backyard, in partnership with the Affiliation of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), are celebrating the third-annual Asian Elephant Consciousness Month. Throughout August, Zoo happenings will assist Asian elephant conservation with #ThumbsUpTrunksUp digital media marketing campaign fundraisers.
The occasion was created in 2019, to boost consciousness in regards to the points dealing with Asian elephants.
Starting Monday, August 2, and persevering with via Tuesday, August 31, Asian Elephant Consciousness Month, a collaborative effort amongst AZA-accredited members and worldwide elephant conservation companions, will host neighborhood conservation occasions, studying alternatives and a social media marketing campaign.
Elephant fanatics are inspired to share their assist for Asian elephants utilizing the hashtag #ThumbsUpTrunksUp.
Whereas wild African elephant populations are rebounding in some areas, the variety of Asian elephants within the wild continues to lower. In response to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Asian elephants are an endangered species with many severe threats to their survival.
The most important risk consists of human-elephant battle on account of habitat loss and poaching for ivory tusks, pores and skin and meat. Asian elephants dwell in a really densely populated part of the world. As habitat decreases, they arrive involved with individuals inflicting battle as a result of elephants raid meals shops and crops.
Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV), a fast-moving elephant herpes virus, with an roughly 60 p.c fatality price, and habitat destruction as a consequence of palm oil plantations are different main threats to their populations.
“As a result of African elephants are mostly top-of-mind in conversations regarding elephant conservation, the distinctive challenges Asian elephants face typically go unnoticed by most of the people,” stated Rebecca Snyder, OKC Zoo’s director of conservation and science.
“The last word purpose of Asian Elephant Consciousness Month is to have interaction with people and supply them with the data they should shift the dialog and educate others in regards to the dire state of affairs dealing with Asian elephants right this moment,” Snyder stated.
“By doing that, we are able to heighten consciousness of their plight and current actionable methods for the general public to get entangled to make sure this beloved species’ future.”
Final 12 months’s marketing campaign messages reached over 12.5 million individuals, with hopes of reaching much more individuals this 12 months.
Wildlife followers are inspired to make use of the #ThumbsUpTrunksUp hashtag @OKCZoo all through this international social media marketing campaign and share why they love Asian elephants of their captions. All shared images will probably be featured on the Zoo’s Fb web page all through the month.
The OKC Zoo is celebrating World Elephant Day on Thursday, August 12, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., within the Zoo’s Sanctuary Asia elephant habitat close to the ZooZeum. Offered domestically by Bob Moore Subaru, this particular actions together with an info station, interactive actions for teenagers with prizes, photograph alternatives, an elephant presentation at 2 p.m., Fb dwell chats, a #ThumbsUpTrunksUp pledge station, and extra.
World Elephant Day is supposed to encourage people to assist preserve and shield these mild giants. All World Elephant Day occasions are free with Zoo admission.
The Zoo’s Sanctuary Asia’s elephant habitat is presently residence to a multi-generational herd of seven elephants – Asha, 26; Chandra, 25; Bamboo, 54; Rex, 52; Kandula, 19; Achara, 6; and Kairavi, 2. Asha is presently pregnant and anticipating her fourth calf in February 2023.
The OKC Zoo is partnering with Eileen’s Colossal Cookies for elephant conservation. Starting Monday, August 2 and persevering with via Tuesday, August 31, Eileen’s Cookies for Conservation effort will donate $.50 per cookie for each frosted elephant cookie bought to the OKC Zoo in assist of Asian elephant conservation.
Cookies will probably be obtainable to buy individually or trays of 6 cookies. Clients that buy a tray of 6 will probably be entered to win an OKC Zoo Asian Elephant Wild Encounter expertise good for 4 individuals plus Zoo admission. There will probably be one drawing at every of the 2 collaborating places, Edmond (1333 N Santa Fe, Edmond) and Nichols Hills (7700 N. Might Ave, OKC) places.
On Thursday, August 12, from 6 – 8 p.m., the OKC Zoo will accomplice with Chicken N Pickle (8400 N. Oklahoma Avenue, to host an “Night for Elephants,” in assist of elephant conservation. The occasion will embrace an evening of enjoyable, meals and video games. Hen N Pickle will donate 10 p.c of all gross sales from the occasion to assist Asian elephant EEHV, elephant herpes virus, remedy and monitoring.
Individuals can meet members of the OKC Zoo’s elephant and rhino staff and take a look at their hand at taking part in a recreation of large yard pong for a $3 donation per individual to elephant conservation. For particulars, try the Zoo’s Facebook web page.
The OKC Zoo is devoted not solely to educating wildlife followers in regards to the plight of Asian elephants, but in addition conserving their wild counterparts via international partnerships. In 2023, the Zoo’s Round Up for Conservation funds supported EEHV vaccine growth. These funds contributed to the event of a Polymerase Chain Response (PCR) laboratory for a nature conservancy situated in Nepal, residence to greater than 200 elephants.
The Zoo has supported the Northern Rangelands Belief since 2009, which protects elephants and different native species in Kenya, the Zoo partnered with the Rainforest Belief to buy and protect 13,000 acres of forest in central Sumatra and 18,000 acres of forest in Borneo, each of that are pure habitats for Asian elephants.
The Zoo’s different elephant conservation initiatives consists of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Rakhine Yoma Elephant Vary Mission in Myanmar and Worldwide Elephant Basis’s conservation efforts in Sumatra. These initiatives assist boots-on-the-ground groups that work to guard forests, stop poaching and habitat encroachment, in addition to mitigate human-elephant battle.
Within the final decade, the Zoo has contributed greater than $400,000 to elephant-related conservation. OKC Zoo proudly members within the Asian Elephant Species Survival Plan®(SSP), developed by the AZA.
Via AZA SAFE: Saving Animals from Extinction, specialists from around the globe are working collectively to implement strategic conservation and engagement actions, measure conservation progress and construct on established restoration plans, all in an effort to resolve issues dealing with susceptible and endangered species, together with Asian elephants.
In 2023, AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums reported participating in quite a lot of area conservation initiatives, investing almost $25 million to assist save animals from extinction with $270,000 invested in initiatives benefitting Asian elephants, together with work with the Worldwide Elephant Basis.
Zoo supporters could make a vogue assertion for Asian elephants, with an unique conservation T-shirt. AZA SAFE is teaming up with the Elephant Mangers Association to make these wild tees obtainable throughout the month of August.
Proceeds from the sale of all shirts will assist EEHV, elephant herpes virus, remedy and monitoring. Buy your t-shirt right this moment by clicking here.
The OKC Zoo is presently in its summer season hours and open every day from 8 a.m. to five p.m. with the final entry no later than 4 p.m. Buy advance tickets at okczoo.org/tickets to keep away from entry strains.
The Zoo is providing free basic admission for company, weekday afternoons throughout August 2-6; 9-13 and 16-20. Advance reservations are required. Tickets can be found at okczoo.org/tickets for all company and ZOOfriends members wanting to go to. Capability is proscribed to 6 individuals per reservation.
Common admission is $12 for adults and $9 for kids ages 3-11 and seniors ages 65 and over. Kids two and beneath are admitted free. To study extra, name 405-424-3344 or go to okczoo.org.
