Dallas Zoo Chooses Africam Safari
as Best AZA Facility for Jenny the Elephant
Why is the Dallas Zoo sending Jenny to Africam Safari in Puebla, Mexico?
What makes Africam Safari an appropriate facility for Jenny? What regulations are in place to ensure her well being?
Some groups claim that the elephants already at Africam are not listed in any national registries and cannot be tracked.
The elephant sanctuary in Tennessee has offered to take Jenny. Why not send her there?
What will happen to the Dallas Zoo’s current elephant habitat?
Will elephants return to the Dallas Zoo?
How can I learn more about the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Standards for Elephant Management and Care?
Why is the Dallas Zoo sending Jenny to Africam Safari in Puebla, Mexico?
Africam Safari offers the best total quality care for Jenny. As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), it was important for the Dallas Zoo to work with AZA-accredited zoos that meet the same standards and requirements for elephant management and care.
Like the Dallas Zoo, Africam is an AZA-accredited facility that adheres to AZA standards that not only encompass USDA standards under the U. S. Animal Welfare Act, but also in many cases, exceed them. The Dallas Zoo has a strong knowledge of Africam Safari and Dallas Zoo staff members have consulted with them on multiple occasions at their facility. In addition, Africam also is a member of La Asociacíon de Zoológicos Criaderos y Acuarios de México AC (AZCARM), an association of 29 zoological parks in Mexico. Frank Camacho, general curator at Africam, is president of AZCARM.
In addition, the management team at Africam Safari made a commitment to expand their elephant herd. They are bringing in an additional female African elephant to serve as a companion for Jenny. Africam practices positive reinforcement and protected contact in managing its herd, as does the Dallas Zoo. Return to top
What makes Africam Safari an appropriate facility for Jenny? What regulations are in place to ensure her well being?
As mentioned, AZA-accreditation standards not only encompass USDA regulations under the Animal Welfare Act, they exceed them. Less than 10 percent of USDA licensed animal facilities in North America have achieved AZA-accreditation
status. AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums undergo a thorough review that includes a detailed accreditation application and a multiple day on-site inspection by a team of zoo and aquarium experts.
Africam has several full-time veterinarians, including one veterinarian that permanently resides on park grounds, a nutritionist, and six keepers dedicated to elephant care and an enrichment and training program. The Dallas Zoo has three full-time veterinarians and a full-time nutritionist on staff. Africam also utilizes positive reinforcement and the protected contact method of elephant management, the same system Jenny responds positively to at the Dallas Zoo.
While Africam Safari is located outside of the United States in Mexico, it still must maintain the high standards set forth by the AZA. In addition, the Dallas Zoo will retain ownership of Jenny and will receive regular updates on Jenny’s care and well being from Africam Safari as part of AZA-accreditation guidelines. Return to top
Some groups claim that the elephants already at Africam are not listed in any national registries and cannot be tracked.
The animals at Africam, including the elephants, are listed in the International Species Information System (ISIS), a zoological information management system for zoos around the world. All AZA-accredited facilities are required to register their animals with ISIS. The facility is listed under the city name, Puebla, and two female Asian elephants are registered. The male Asian elephant arrived recently and its registration may not be posted yet. The new African elephant has not yet arrived so that information will not be posted until she gets to Africam.
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The elephant sanctuary in Tennessee has offered to take Jenny. Why not send her there?
We are committed to sending Jenny to an AZA-accredited facility. As an AZA-accredited facility, the Dallas Zoo knows the extensive requirements for elephant management and the intense scrutiny each facility undergoes in order to obtain this certification. At this time, there are no AZA-accredited sanctuaries that house elephants.
The AZA has a 60-page accreditation packet with multiple pages dedicated specifically toward elephant management and care. These standards not only encompass USDA regulations, in many cases they exceed them.
The Dallas Zoo had already committed to sending Jenny to Africam Safari by the time the sanctuary in Tennessee offered to take Jenny.
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What will happen to the Dallas Zoo’s current elephant habitat?
The Dallas Zoo will be acquiring several more giraffes over the next few months. The plan will be to renovate and expand the current giraffe and elephant habitats into one large giraffe area. This new habitat will provide plenty of space for several giraffes and will likely include interactive opportunities for the public to see these majestic animals up close.
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Will elephants return to the Dallas Zoo?
Yes. The Dallas Zoo is committed to having elephants long-term at the Dallas Zoo. Elephants have been a part of the Dallas Zoo since 1923 and plans are under way for a new African savanna exhibit. Return to top
How can I learn more about the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Standards for Elephant Management and Care?
You can visit www.aza.org and click on “Animal Management.” Scroll down and click on “Board Approved Policies” where you can find the Standards for Elephant Care and Management. Return to top
For more information about Jenny’s new home, you can visit
www.africamsafari.com.mx
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