Elephants Tina and Jewel: Adventures
Posted at 1:06 pm November 19, 2009 by Victoria ZahnI am happy to say that the day we thought might never arrive has come: elephants Tina and Jewel are cleared from quarantine. No more sanitizing mats, changing our clothes, and washing our hands every few minutes. YEAH! However, don’t expect to see them out right away; the process of introducing them to the rest of the San Diego Zoo’s herd at Elephant Odyssey will take some time. (See post, Elephants Tina and Jewel: Training Progress)
Currently, our main goal is preparing Jewel for her first dental procedure, scheduled for early December. We are making modifications to the building and getting both girls comfortable being away from each other for increased lengths of time.
Every day is an interesting adventure! Tina and Jewel continue to work well for the keepers. Work on their feet is coming along nicely, and we have successfully taken X rays of all four feet on both of them. They have even gotten a glimpse of the other elephants. Surprisingly, they didn’t have much of a reaction.
While we offer them a variety of enrichment items, the ball still seems to be their favorite toy. We fill it with pellets, and they bounce and roll it around to get the food out.
Stay tuned for the adventures to come.
Victoria Zahn is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo.
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November 19th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
How are the integrations for the others coming along? Thanks
November 19th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
I am excited! keep informing us…we all do love your blogs and we are worried about these two for sure…I think they will do just fine
November 19th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
So wonderful to hear they are making such good progress and they are now clear of quarantine. Thank you so much for taking these two girls in and taking such good care of them.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
I have no clue why you would think they would have a reaction to the other elephants. They’ve been around lotso f elephants in the circus and they can hear the elephants in the zoo, so it’s no surprise. How on earth are you going to squeeze all those elephants on that tiny plot when the others don’t have full access because they all don’t get along? Seems thre are issues here, that the zoo is glossing over.
November 19th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
So glad they are doing well. I have been watching and waiting for this announcement. Can’t wait until I can see them with the others … happy … healthy … etc. Good job, San Diego Zoo!
November 19th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
So, when you say you are “getting both girls comfortable being away from each other for increased lengths of time”, does this mean they are going to be separated ? Or is this for the dental procedure purposes?
If they are to be separated, is there a reason for this , considering they came together, and are attached to one another? Thanx for the update of the girls Victoria. I’ve been wondering how they’re doing.
Moderator’s note: Just separated for the dental procedure.
November 19th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Can you please talk more about the dental problems and foot problems. I am glad these lovely girls are doing so well.
November 20th, 2009 at 8:36 am
Thanks so much for the blog, Victoria. It was so nice to be able to get a good look at the two girls while they were shifted out of their usual area, and it’s always great to be able to talk with you and the other keepers. I often feel like the Elephant Care Center is the true heart of the zoo!! You all do a fantastic job!
November 20th, 2009 at 8:56 am
Since Elephants are so “not small” (I would hate to call them fat… there are alot of girls out there) When you go to put them together… do you find a real small one first and hope for the best or what? Over all were the girls sick or in danger in any way when you got them? I have noticed the girls are going through what seems a very intensive check over and I woudl hate to be worried for nothing… are they over all OK?
November 20th, 2009 at 9:01 am
Thanks for the update.
November 20th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Photos or video please. Thanks for the update.
November 20th, 2009 at 11:00 am
You said that you were able to get x-rays of their feet. What did the x-rays show? Are there problems with their feet? Also, how extensive is the dental work going to be? Will you be removing one of their teeth? If so, how long will it take for the next tooth to move up to replace it?
Sorry for so many questions, but I do love elephants. I feel that they have the same emotions that humans have and are able to feel and give love.
November 20th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Great to hear there fianlly out of quarantine, now lets get Queenie!
November 20th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Yes, Calvin from Canda – Tina and Jewel are now in a better world – SO LET’S GO GET QUEENIE (BOO)!!!!
November 20th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Free Queenie ! yeahhhh
no video : (
#4 Merry : where do you think they should go??? SDZ has alot of acres of land for these animals..and if they think they were crowded you think they would put up a huge animal like an elephant? They are better off at the Zoo then with the owner who didn’t feed them well enough…
November 20th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Great to hear that they areprogressing. I was at the Park today and it looks like the are getting ready to move some of the Ele’s to the Asian side. Who is moving and when?
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Hi! Just read your update about Tina and Jewel. I am soooooo glad that they are FINALLY out of quarantine! YEA!!! Great job so far, ellie keepers! Looks like Tina and Jewel are doing pretty well so far. Hope the dental procedure for Jewel goes well, and that her teeth are in fairly good shape. Can you give us some idea of what kind of foot problems Tina and Jewel were having when they came to you all? Just wondering about that since I read that you had taken xrays of all of their feet. Hope the intros with the other EO ellies will go well for Tina and Jewel. I thought it was funny that both Tina and Jewel caught a quick look at a couple of the ellies and didn’t respond to them at all! I think that will tell you that they will probably take the ellie intros pretty well based on that reaction from them! Tina and Jewel are going to do fine with the other ellies.
Now, I’m waiting for new updates about the ellie kids at WAP! Wondering how they are doing right now?
Gonna go for now. Will check back later on!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:02 am
whoa!! what is happening with cam this am?
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:39 pm
little birds walking around behind and beside the ellie’s.. how cute…
bet they are scrounging what the ellie’s don’t eat… smart birds..:)
November 24th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
That’s such great news! Hopefully they’ll be able to join in all the reindeer fun on 12/11 when Jungle Bell’s begin. I can’t wait to see, hear and know more about these girls It seems like they’ve been here forever!
November 25th, 2009 at 9:13 am
I was wondering why elephant cam is of the wild life park instead of the wonderful new elephant odysseyat the zoo?
Thanks
Moderator’s note: We installed Elephant Cam when we received the herd of seven African elephants from Swaziland in 2003.
November 25th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
I am glad Tina and Jewel are doing well. But, what happened to Queenie? Their elephant friend that remained chained to the tree when they were rescued.
November 27th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Heidi – Sadly Queenie is still in the same place. In Defense of Animals a welfare group has been trying to get her released. As has other elephant welfare groups They are urging people to continue to call, write etc to put pressure to get her released. There are several elephant rescues willing to take her. Google for more information
November 29th, 2009 at 2:25 am
I am happy to hear they are doing so much better. I am curious about the comment of they are getting the girls comfortable being away from each other for increased lengths of time. It isn’t being considered to separate them is it? I think after all they have been through,and the fact that even the creep who owned them realized they needed to be together,they should be allowed to live the rest of their days together! Or is this to get them used to the idea,for when the inevitable day comes when one of them passes,leaving the other one behind? I so hope that Queenie can join them,and they can all be at a Sanctuary together!
Moderator’s note: Staff is preparing them for the brief separation needed for dental work.
November 29th, 2009 at 4:18 am
I have written yet another letter to Mr. Shea with regards to Queenie. I hope Queenie will soon be rescued and reunited with Tina and Jewel, they all are so close, and Elephants do have life long bonds with each other. This also brings concerns with reading making Tina and Jewel more comfortable being separated from each other ,, I do hope these two are not scheduled to be separated from each other permanently in the future. I am hoping these two will be released into a sanctuary soon, with high hopes reunited with Queenie soon.
I am elated to hear Tina and Jewel are doing so much better. Blessings abound!!
December 1st, 2009 at 6:04 am
It’s so good to read that Tina and Jewel are doing so well, after all they’ve suffered in circuses and that the plan is to keep them together always. And it’s also so truly wonderful to read all the comments that others, also, are continuing the fight to get Queenie either to a sanctuary or to be reunited with Tina and Jewel. Can’t you just imagine the happiness they would experience upon being reunited?!!! – almost as much as Jenny and Shirley!