What:
Hansa, Woodland Park Zoo’s 2-year-old Asian elephant who has delighted the community since her birth, is fast approaching another milestone in an elephant’s life: her first ton! Zookeepers will weigh the precious pachyderm to see if she tips the scales at a hefty 2,000 pounds. Media are invited to film the weigh-in from inside the Elephant Barn. Keepers also will provide enrichment toys and treats for Hansa and the herd.

The elephant’s significant birth in November 2000 marked the first-ever of an elephant at Woodland Park Zoo and the first in Washington state. Hansa eats solid foods such as hay, grain, vegetables and fruit, and continues to nurse. She lives with 24-year-old mother, Chai; 36-year-old Asian, Bamboo; and the only African among the herd, 34-year-old Watoto (wah-toe-toe).

When:
Wednesday, January 29, 2:00-2:30 p.m.

Where:
Woodland Park Zoo’s Elephant Barn. Please meet staff at the ARC near the West Gate at N. 55th St. & Phinney Ave. N.

Info:
Physical modifications have been made to the award-winning Elephant Barn for a new elephant management system that is fully underway at Woodland Park Zoo. The new system, protected contact, separates zookeepers and elephants by a protective barrier such as a wall, metal screen or gate. Woodland Park had for decades operated under the free contact system of elephant management, which places keepers in immediate contact with a potentially dangerous animal that is as much as 50 times their size. Protected contact maintains the zoo’s high standards of providing the best care for the zoo’s elephants while ensuring a safe working environment for staff. The variety of new training techniques, based on positive reinforcement, encourages spontaneous behavior and allows the elephants to be more expressive during training sessions.”

Hours:
Zoo winter hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily. Admission ranges from free for toddlers to $10.00 for adults. King County residents receive a discount and zoo members receive free admission year-round. Parking is $3.50. For more information and Hansa updates visit the Hansa pages on the zoo's Web site.