Philadelphia Zoo Last Two Days Before Elephants Were Moved

These videos of Bette and Kallie, the Zoo's last remaining elephants, were recorded on July 7th and 8th, 2009.

On the night of July 8th, they were transferred to the Pittsburgh Zoo's International Conservation Center, and the elephant exhibit was closed for the first time in the Zoo's history. The Pachyderm House will soon be transformed into a new Children's Zoo.

This video shows a lot of "lasts" for me. The last view of Bette and Kallie taking their dust baths. The last view of Kallie crossing her back legs while munching on a snack.

The last view of Bette and Kallie reaching across the wall to encourage the Asian rhino in the next exhibit to come over so they could scratch its ears. (At the time, the rhino was busy watching the okapi, its other neighbor.)

And it was the last view of Kallie taking a drink of fresh water from the waterfall that flowed into the elephants' pool.

This is the only negative about visiting the same zoo regularly and often. You really miss the animals when they are moved because you got to know them as individuals.

And you miss the exhibits, too, when they are closed to transform them into something completely different than what they were for so long.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Philadelphia Zoo
• zoos
• elephant
• elephant exhibit
• July 7th
• July 8th
• 2009
• July
• mammal
• mammals
• Pachyderm House
• Monday
• Tuesday

[BornInAWorldToHelp]

I know that they probably had it better than other zoo elephants. There was something special about Petal and Dulary. But if we lived like them, sometimes I think it would be like us living in our backyards the size of a living room, with a few snacks hidden around and maybe a couple balls. But I do know they truly were loved.

[ZooVisitorMM]

@BornInAWorldToHelp Thanks for your thoughtful comments. I understand what you say, and I think if had been in charge, I would have found a way to take the elephants on daily walks around the Zoo, as some other zoos do. And I would have added a small mound or a curved bridge to their exhibit for them to walk up and over for additional exercise. The care they received at the Zoo was so wonderful - all it would have taken were just a few things like that to make their environment perfect.

[BornInAWorldToHelp]

I do know that the elephants were deeply loved and cared for, but in my heart I have always felt that they needed more space and a better home. Plus, I think it's cruel to place them on exhibit like art displays. They're so much more than that.

[ZooVisitorMM]

@BornInAWorldToHelp When I stood a few feet away from the elephants, I never thought of them as being on display. It was just such a wonderful feeling to be in their presence, to hear the sounds of their ears flapping, their snorts, an occasional rumble, or even a trumpeting ... And I never got the sense that they felt like they were on display, either. They often appeared to pay attention to individual visitors, and never appeared nervous or agitated, even when the Zoo was very crowded.

[godblesselephants]

It is a shame that the ICC does not even provide the elephants running water or the toys that the zoo provided for them.

[IrishMusicIsAwesome]

It's sad that the elephants are gone.

[proboscidea123]

How much does Kallie weigh?

[ElephantsAreSmart]

@awesomeH2O I never got that impression from her. She seemed like the cheeky African elephant who desired lots of food! She also appeared to be eager to eat...

I think she was not actually temperamental or grumpy - in fact, she seemed quiet and friendly.

[ElephantsAreSmart]

@awesomeH2O I believe so...but I'm not sure.

[awesomeH2O]

@ZooVisitorMM I wonder what it really was about. Maybe Kallie (if it really is her, which it sounds like it is now) was a bit grumpy.