National Elephant Center Releases RSS Feed

Visit An Elephant, Contribute to Conservation

noemail@thenationalelephantcenter.org — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:00:00 GMT

Silver Spring, MD (June 16, 2009) – Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoos are leaders in elephant conservation education and science, and invite the public to celebrate and support elephants by visiting them this summer. Experiencing an elephant close-up is a moving experience, said AZA President and CEO Jim Maddy. Elephants are as beautiful as their populations are fragile, and there’s no better place to connect with them and understand what is being done to help them than at an AZA-accredited zoo. Status Of Elephants In The Wild In the wild, elephants are in trouble. Elephant populations in Africa and Asia are under severe threat from human-elephant conflict (HEC), intense poaching, disease, and dramatic loss of habitat. Elephas Maximus – Over the last 25 years, the population of Asian elephants is estimated to have declined by 50 percent or more, maintaining their endangered status according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (ICUN)....

The National Elephant Center Buys Local with Florida-based Contractors and Firms Center's Goal to be a Good Neighbor to Community

noemail@thenationalelephantcenter.org — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:00:00 GMT

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. (March 5, 2009) — The National Elephant Center, a new model for elephant care and conservation, today announced that Richard K. Davis Construction of Ft. Pierce, Fla., will manage construction for phase one of the 300-acre site located on land owned by Waste Management in Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties. The Center also announced agreements with several other local contractors, keeping with its pledge to support local firms. Our corporate collaborator, Waste Management, originally brought us to the area when they donated a beautiful parcel of land for the Center. It is important to us that we return the favor and work with local Florida businesses, said Mark Reed, The National Elephant Center’s board chair. As we continue planning for The Center’s construction, we want to be good neighbors and good business partners, particularly during this difficult economic time. A family-owned business for 49 years, Davis Construction has established strong relationships...

Center says article on zoo elephants does not reflect innovative care provided today

noemail@thenationalelephantcenter.org — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:00:00 GMT

A recent study published in Science (December 12, 2008) cites many of the complexities with elephants that zoos have managed during the past several decades. The study is based on data as old as 50 years ago and does not include data from zoos in North America. In recent years North American zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) have combined their research, knowledge and expertise to improve the care of elephants.

The National Elephant Center is an important component of the long-range vision of AZA-accredited zoos that are addressing the challenges facing elephants. They recognize the need for a center dedicated to further advancing our collective ability to care for these magnificent animals.
The Center is dedicated to developing new techniques in elephant population management, conservation, scientific research and training in order to further elevate the level of elephant care in accredited zoos and around the world.

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION TAKE FLIGHT AT THE NATIONAL ELEPHANT CENTER

noemail@thenationalelephantcenter.org — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:00:00 GMT

See photo album of release here. OKEECHOBEE, Fla. (July 18, 2008) — Representatives from the Treasure Coast Wildlife Center, Waste Management and The National Elephant Center are releasing four barn owls rescued from a construction site. The owls' new home includes open woodlands and prairie habitat suitable for their survival. The property includes the future home of The National Elephant Center, a new model for excellence in elephant care and conservation, which plans to welcome its first elephants in late 2009. The owls were rescued as chicks by Treasure Coast Wildlife Center staff members, who not only kept them alive but prepared them for life in the wild. Now fully grown, they are being released into natural habitat owned by Waste Management and certified by the Wildlife Habitat Council. The protected space, along with the addition of owl boxes built by Okeechobee Boy Scout Troup 964, will ensure the barn owls thrive in their new home. The release is one of many wildlife...

THE NATIONAL ELEPHANT CENTER UNVEILS A BOLD NEW INITIATIVE FOR GLOBAL ELEPHANT CONSERVATION

noemail@thenationalelephantcenter.org — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:00:00 GMT

HOUSTON (Feb.7, 2008) — A new model for excellence in elephant care and conservation is a reality today as The National Elephant Center announced plans to create a national elephant conservation center in central Florida made possible, in part, by Waste Management’s involvement. The facility will be under construction for several months with the first elephants expected to arrive in 2009. Elephants are among our most endangered animals in the world, and their future depends on innovative programs that integrate science, research, education and animal care expertise. The National Elephant Center will play a vital role in addressing the critical need for elephant population management and will be an international resource in elephant conservation, said Center Board President Mark C. Reed, and Executive Director of the Sedgwick County Zoo. Waste Management’s support of the project, including its nominal lease to the Center of the land, will help provide a perfect home for our elephants...