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SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse zoo is the only accredited zoo in North America to have three generations of related elephants in the herd.
Grandmother, mother and baby can usually be seen together twice a day in the elephant field, along with the other three females in the herd: Romani, Kirina and Siri.
Elephants live in a matriarchal society.
Kirina and Romani will likely behave like aunties to Batu and will be invited to help raise the calf.
The zoo staff is mourning the unsuccessful end to Kirina’s pregnancy. Kirina’s first calf was stillborn in July. That calf would have meant Syracuse had two sets of three generations. Kirina’s mother is Romani.
The matriarch in the Syracuse herd is Siri. Zoo officials estimate her age is 49 and celebrate her birthday every August.
The zoo plans to add a pool for the elephant field.
Architects are designing a pool with graduated walls to mimic the kind of water an animal would encounter in the wild. It could also feature some moving water where the animals can splash and play.
Already, Batu loves the water at bath time.
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