“this is one of the toughest decisions that I’ve had to make in my career, but I know that it’s the right one for our elephant program and for Lisa and Cita.”
That decision by the Virginia Zoo was to send beloved African Elephants Lisa, who’s been here since 1976 and Cita, since 2005, to Zoo Miami to live out their golden years.
“The elephant experts have realized, looking at data, observing those family groups in the world, what their real needs are, they need more social choice among their own kind. Multigenerational choices for relationships are even more important, and as they age, then need the same things we need, softer places to walk on, they get arthritis like we do, they need warmer conditions, more medical attention,
“We wanted to find two girls that would mix into our heard and create positive social interaction, and Lisa & Cita are a great fit for our girls”.
They arrived safely at Zoo Miami on April 19th. After a quarantine period, Lisa & Cita will go on public display to begin their lives with Peggy, pictured here, and Mable. The Virginia Zoo held a 2 week public sendoff for the girls, giving people the chance to see them, learn about them and their habitat, watch them eat a special edible flower message of love, and send them well wishes on a banner that made the trip to Miami with them. One banner turned into multiple banners, after the first one filled up with well wishes after only one day.
But even though Lisa & Cita are no longer on display for everyone to see, folks still have plenty of new animals to enjoy at the Virginia Zoo. There’s the two tiger cubs that were born recently, there’s Chester & Rico, the first ever cheetahs to be on exhibit in the 115-year history of the Virginia Zoo, and coming soon, a ‘breeding herd’ of white rhinos to join this lucky guy, Alfred.
To learn more about Lisa & Cita’s acclimation to their new home at Zoo Miami, and all animals you can still see at the Virginia Zoo, including how you can sign up for the auction to name the tiger cubs, just go to www.virginiazoo.org
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