A GREEN Elephant Odyssey
Posted at 12:20 pm June 2, 2009 by Rick Schwartz
Ranchipur steps out from the Elephant Care Center.
An elephant receives foot care.
Well, here are some pretty amazing GREEN facts about Elephant Odyssey:
- Demolition waste (a whopping 94 percent) from the older Horn & Hoof Mesa area (where Elephant Odyssey now stands) was diverted from the landfill thanks to proactive planning that allowed for reuse and recycling of many materials.
- Amount of concrete crushed on site (no fuel used to truck somewhere else) and reused right at Elephant Odyssey: over 6,000 tons (5,440 tonnes)!
- Amount of steel recycled: 92 tons (83 tonnes).
- Over 400 smaller plants were saved and reused. Plus, over 300 trees were boxed (placed in large temporary planters) for use at Elephant Odyssey and other parts of the Zoo. (When you visit Elephant Odyssey, take a moment to appreciate the trees and plants. Some were there before, just in different locations.)
- The concrete blocks used for the buildings were locally produced. Of course, that means less fuel used to transport from manufacture to building site!
- Those same concrete blocks used for buildings contain recycled material, and concrete blocks create an energy-efficient structure that is naturally well insulated.
- Steel used in the structures built at Elephant Odyssey contains a high percentage of recycled material. (reusing material reduces landfill waste)
- Our Horticulture Department has installed drip irrigation (as seen throughout the Zoo and Wild Animal Park). Computer-controlled drip irrigation systems used at the Zoo are one of the most efficient ways to irrigate.
- Nearly 180,000 gallons (681,000 liters) of exhibit water will be treated on site and reused. Part of the project was building a state-of-the-art water treatment facility on site. A computerized monitoring system will allow for maximum efficiency of water management.
- Waterless urinals—no flushing needed! This can save up to 45,000 gallons (170,000 liters) of water a year, per urinal! Currently we have 35 waterless urinals installed throughout the Zoo and 8 more were added when Elephant Odyssey restrooms where built. (The main Zoo will get 12 more in the very near future.) Do the math: With the 43 waterless urinals currently in place, the Zoo is saving well over 1.5 MILLION gallons of water a year!
Rick Schwartz is the San Diego Zoo’s Elephant Odyssey Ambassador.
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June 2nd, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Thanks for the update, Rick. This is important information we all can share with our guests — one more thing about our zoo to be truly proud of!!
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:06 am
Now THAT’S what you call recycling!! Hats off to you, SDZ and may the elephants enjoy their new home for many happy years to come.
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Can you do a write up about utilitrees? That green thing on top of each structure made me wonder…while eating my lunch at the new cafe.
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Hi Rick, I am happy to hear of the amount of thought that went into the conservation effort during the construction of the Elephant Odyssey.
The reuse of 94% of the material from the Horn and Hoof Mesa area shows that this effort was a great success. Thanks to everyone at the San Diego Zoo for a job well done.
June 3rd, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Kudos to everyone in the green Elephant Odyssey and the lead you are taking in demolition/construction conservation and recycling. It will go a long was as a world class leader of all areas of environmental conservation.
June 5th, 2009 at 11:54 am
The Captive Elephant Database still lists the new baby as “no name”.
June 5th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Elizabeth #6 – The adorable African elephant calf that was born on March 13, 2009, now has a name. His name is Ingadze – it’s pronounced N-Gad-Zee.
There’s more information in today’s (6/5/09) San Diego Union Tribune. Search, new zoo elephant’s name inspired by Dr. Seuss.
June 6th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Thanks, he’s now official to the rest of the world!
June 8th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
“There’s more information in today’s (6/5/09) San Diego Union Tribune. Search, new zoo elephant’s name inspired by Dr. Seuss.”
Thanks! I was wondering how you’d reconcile your trend of picking animal names from their species’ homelands and the odds that the donor would not have a southern African name. That article cleared it right up!
“…He is Ingadze – or, in an unlikely translation from the African language SiSwati, Horton. As in the title character from ‘Horton Hears a Who!’ and ‘Horton Hatches an Egg,’ both by the late Theodor Geisel, or Dr. Seuss.
“Geisel’s widow, Audrey, gave $2 million to the zoo’s $45 million new elephant exhibit, Elephant Odyssey, which opened May 23.
“When the elephant calf arrived in March, zoo officials said they would name the pachyderm in honor of a donor. A zoo spokeswoman said the staff chose the name and presented it to Audrey Geisel for approval…”
I’m glad she’s cool with the name.
June 11th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Hi! Well, I was going to ask you all about the new baby elephant’s name, and I found out just by reading some of the comments that he has finally gotten a name! YEA!!! Ingadze just might fit him! I would still like a new full update about Ingadze, how much he’s weighing now, and what he’s been up to with Khosi, Punga, and Kamile, his older brother and sisters. Plus, are any of the other elephant moms pregnant again? Would still love to hear about Swazi and Lungile(?) getting pregnant. Anyway, just touching base with you all and hopefully we will have that new update about Ingadze ASAP!
Thanks,
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
PS: Asali, Memphis Zoo’s elephant, is only a few weeks away from having her baby elephant! Pray that everything will go well for Asali and there will be no serious problems during her birth process.
June 12th, 2009 at 10:54 am
WAP is expecting 3 new calves next year.
June 12th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
A while ago I read a blog mentioning the fact you have a lone African living with all Asians. What research has been done in the area of communication. Is there any difference between the two?
I read quite a bit about field research, but what about research done on captive elephants? How can you improve the lives of elephants in captivity if you do not study them in zoos. Is there no funding?
Moderator’s note: We are studying our own elephants as well. You can read the most recent post from one of our researchers at http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/elephant-calves-measure-up/
For more info about our elephant research, visit http://www.sandiegozoo.org/conservation/animals/mammals/lend_and_ear_to_our_elephant_research_programs/
June 13th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
“Plus, are any of the other elephant moms pregnant again?”
I just saw this comment 1 blog post ago (”Elephant Odyssey is OPEN!”)
Rich–faithful zoo member says:
June 11th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
“Also for those of you that like to hear through the blogs, I hear the WAP is expecting 3 more calves next year. HOORAY!!!!!!!”
Anyone know who’s pregnant? I searched the web a bit for this and couldn’t find any more details.
Since Father’s Day is coming up, I’d also like to see some info (if anyone has time to post it) about how Mabhulane gets along with all his sons and daughters.
June 17th, 2009 at 5:14 am
BTW, I just thought of something about the upcoming 3 babies: Lungile wasn’t able to produce enough milk for her daughter, who didn’t drink from a bottle either. If this happens again (and I really hope it doesn’t!), would it be possible to have another mother be a wet nurse for the baby in trouble? Or is there a problem with that (like no mother of one infant making enough milk for two, a mother of a calf who eats solid foods too making the wrong kind of milk for a newborn, etc.)?
“Would still love to hear about Swazi and Lungile(?) getting pregnant.”
That reminds me, is Swazi pregnant? If not, anyone know why she hasn’t been pregnant so far (is she infertile?, are she and Mabhulane just friends?, do she and Mabhulane prefer…um…non-reproductive positions, is she gay?)?
Jeff Andrews, elephant care manager, responds: We learned a lot while attempting to hand raise Lungile’s calf. We’re sure every situation is different, and as last time, we’ll do everything it takes, perhaps again pursuing the wet nurse idea.
Lungile is not currently pregnant but we expect her to become so in the next few years. Swazi is pregnant and is due in 2010.
June 23rd, 2009 at 6:31 pm
“Jeff Andrews, elephant care manager, responds: We learned a lot while attempting to hand raise Lungile’s calf. We’re sure every situation is different, and as last time, we’ll do everything it takes, perhaps again pursuing the wet nurse idea…”
Thank you for your response – and more importantly, thank you for doing your best for every calf including Lungile’s.
July 27th, 2009 at 8:47 am
Insulted should probably be insulated
Moderator’s note: Right you are, Anne. We’ve made the change. Thanks for alerting us.
September 16th, 2009 at 11:07 am
I love to know things about these beautiful creatures. Thank you for this blog:) HOORAY on the babies