Who's Your Daddy? - Rio Grande Zoo's Baby Elephant Now Knows Who Hers Is

By Terry Axline

Albuquerque, NM - Results of paternity testing on Daizy just arrived! Daizy’s daddy is none other than Albert, one of ABQ BioPark’s two bull elephants. The tests confirm that Albert is the sire and exclude Rio Grande Zoo bull, Samson, and Tulsa Zoo bull, Sneezy. The tests were conducted at Henry Doorly Zoo’s Center for Conservation and Research in Omaha, Nebraska. The results of these tests provide important information that will help in making future decisions about breeding to maintain or increase levels of genetic diversity and establish a healthy population of Asian elephants. Daizy’s birth was a result of artificial insemination conducted on her mother, Rozie, in November of 2007.

Classified as endangered by the International Union of Conservation Nations, elephants are targeted in a number of conservation efforts, one of which is the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Elephant Species Survival Plan (SSP). A primary goal of the Elephant SSP is to boost elephant reproduction efforts in order to build a self-sustaining elephant population among North American zoos and wildlife centers. The Albuquerque Biological Park has been designated as an Elephant Breeding Facility by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

The BioPark is an accessible facility and a division of the City of Albuquerque’s Cultural Services Department. Contact the BioPark at 311 locally, (505) 768-2000 (Relay NM or 711). Find more information at http://www.cabq.gov/biopark .

Same day combo admission to the BioPark’s Rio Grande Zoo, Albuquerque Aquarium and Rio Grande Botanic Garden is $12 for adults; $5 for seniors 65 and older and for children 3-12. New Mexico BioPark Society membership confers FREE general admission to all BioPark facilities and discounts to many special events, including summer concerts. Find out more about becoming a BioPark Society member at nmbioparksociety.org.

The Albuquerque Biological Park is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you and a better future for all living things. With more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation.

To view Rio Grande Zoo's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to:  http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-94-Rio_Grande_Zoo