ASIAN ELEPHANT Samudra TURNS 10 YEARS OLD AT OREGON ZOO

Juvenile Asian elephant Samudra in the pool at Elephant Lands.  Oregon Zoo / photo by Michael Durham.

‘Class clown’ of the zoo herd is known for his playful personality and love of water

Asian elephant Samudra turned 10 years old at the Oregon Zoo today, and it’s safe to say birthday boys don’t come much bigger. The playful pachyderm, who weighed 286 pounds at birth, now tips the scales at 7,545 pounds, and keepers expect him put on two to three more tons over the next decade.

“It’s been exciting to watch him grow up,” said Shawn Finnell, the zoo’s senior elephant keeper. “He’s getting more confident as he matures, but he still has the playfulness he was born with. He’s kind of like the class clown of the herd, always fun to be around.”

Samudra, born Aug. 23, 2008, is known for his love of water — his name means “ocean” in Sanskrit — and can often be found swimming in the 160,000-gallon pool at Elephant Lands.

To see a video of Samudra playing and splashing through the years, go to http://bit.ly/samudra10

“Samudra is such a happy-go-lucky elephant,” said Finnell. “He’s always been very social and he loves to play with his sister Lily and the rest of the herd.”

Born Aug. 23, 2008, to Rose-Tu, Samudra was the first third-generation elephant born in the United States. He is also a true tusker, a genetic trait that is increasingly rare among Asian elephants.

As more elephants are killed for their ivory, fewer of those with the tusk gene have survived. Unlike African elephants, only male Asian elephants have tusks — and not all males do. The smaller incisors seen on females are known as “tushes” and do not grow into full tusks.

The Oregon Zoo is recognized worldwide for its Asian elephant program, which has spanned more than 60 years. Considered highly endangered in their range countries, Asian elephants are threatened by habitat loss, conflict with humans and disease. It is estimated that just 40,000 to 50,000 elephants remain in fragmented populations from India to Borneo. The zoo supports a broad range of efforts to help wild elephants, and has established a $1 million endowment fund supporting Asian elephant conservation.

As part of the Metro family, the Oregon Zoo helps make greater Portland a great place to call home. Committed to conservation, the zoo is currently working to save endangered California condors, Oregon silverspot and Taylor’s checkerspot butterflies, western pond turtles and Oregon spotted frogs. Other projects focused on saving animals from extinction include studies on polar bears, orangutans and cheetahs.

Support from the Oregon Zoo Foundation enhances and expands the zoo’s efforts in conservation, education and animal welfare. Members, donors and corporate and foundation partners help the zoo make a difference across the region and around the world.

The zoo opens at 9:30 a.m. daily and is located five minutes from downtown Portland, just off Highway 26. The zoo is also accessible by MAX light rail line. Visitors who travel to the zoo via MAX receive $1.50 off zoo admission. Call TriMet Customer Service, 503-238-RIDE (7433), or visit trimet.org for fare and route information.

 

 

 

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