Zoo sends pachyderms packing

The Zoo is sending its last pachyderms packing this week.

Elephants have lived at The Philadelphia Zoo for more than 100 years. But visitors to the nation’s oldest zoo have few opportunities left to visit the elephants. The Zoo is sending its last pachyderms, packing this week.

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Two African elephants, Bette and Kallie are moving to their new home in Somerset County. Andrew Baker is the Zoo’s Chief Operating Officer. He says the zoo chose the International Conservation Center, associated with the Pittsburgh Zoo, because of staff expertise.

Baker: They’ve got one of the best African elephant programs in the country if not the world. They’ve had successful births so we knew Bette and Kallie would be in good hands.

Baker says they tried to raise money for a new elephant exhibit but came up short.

Animal rights activists say the new facility in Somerset County is still too small to provide adequate exercise for the elephants. The groups oppose moving Bette and Kallie there, saying the new facility uses outdated, circus-like training methods.