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CALDWELL ZOO WELCOMES NEW MALE ELEPHANT TO ITS ZOO FAMILY FROM SAN DIEGO WILD ANIMAL PARK
Move of the 13,000-pound African Elephant recommended by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) Species Survival Plan

TYLER, TX - September 4, 2003 - The Caldwell Zoo announces the recent arrival of a new male elephant from the San Diego Wild Animal Park. The American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) Species Survival Plan recommended the move of 38-year-old “Chico”, a 13,000-pound African Elephant. Chico, originally from Zambia, spent 26 years in San Diego where he sired five calves. He joins the Caldwell Zoo's four female African Elephants and will now be on display after completing a standard 30-day quarantine period.

While at the Caldwell Zoo, Chico's daily diet will include 20 quarts of beet pulp mixed with 24 quarts of water, 15 pounds of varied fresh vegetables, and two bales of hay.

“The Caldwell Zoo participates in a number of AZA Species Survival Plans,” said Executive Director Hayes Caldwell. “These cooperative breeding programs are designed to conserve and propagate both endangered and threatened species.”

Kimbo, an Asian elephant inaugurated the zoo's cooperative breeding program for endangered species in the mid-1980s when she was loaned to the Fort Worth Zoo for its Asian elephant-breeding program.

“It is difficult for one zoo to breed both Asian and African elephants,” Caldwell explained. “By working together, zoos can accomplish much more and protect a wider variety of endangered and threatened species.”

Caldwell Zoo attracts over 600,000 visitors each year, including numerous groups of school children, seniors and other civic and special interest organizations. The zoo has also been recognized as one of the top zoos in the South for visitors along with Zoo Atlanta, Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, Fort Worth Zoo and the North Carolina Zoo.

The Caldwell Zoo, which started as the backyard menagerie of legendary Tyler businessman and philanthropist D.K. Caldwell, is one of the finest small zoos in the country with 2,000 animals representing 250 different species. The Caldwell Zoo is open daily from 9:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. April 1st through September 30th and 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. October 1st through March 31st . The zoo is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.