Denver Zoo Showing Off New Asian Elephant
DENVER (CBS4) - The Denver Zoo is showing off its newest resident of the new Toyota Elephant Passage exhibit.
"Billy has cleared a mandatory quarantine and with a full clean bill of health; he ventured outside for the first time today," Denver Zoo Spokesperson Tiffany Barnhart said in a statement. "The Denver community has been asking about him regularly. I know they will fall in love at first sight."
According to Barnhart, Billy, a male Asian elephant, was acquired from the Antwerpen Zoo in Belgium in late June.
"Denver Zoo is proud to take a leadership role in the management of multiple male elephants to support the long-term vitality of Asian elephants in zoo settings. This encourages breeding programs at all zoos while providing an excellent home for elephants," Denver Zoo Vice President for Animal Care Brian Aucone said.
Additional Information From The Denver Zoo
About Denver Zoo: Denver Zoo is home to 3,600 animals representing more than 600 species and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). AZA accreditation assures the highest standards of animal care.
A leader in environmental action, Denver Zoo is dedicated to ensuring the safety of the environment in support of all species and is the first U.S. zoo to receive ISO 14001 certification for the entire facility and operations. This international certification ensures the zoo is attaining the highest environmental standards.
Since 1996, Denver Zoo has participated in 594 conservation projects in 62 countries on all seven continents. In 2012 alone, Denver Zoo participated in 98 projects in 18 countries and more than $1 million in funds was spent by the zoo in support of animal conservation in the field.
LINK: Denver Zoo
