HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7240 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7240
December 18, 1987
`;_q V 0 1? To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
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Subject: TRANSLOCATION OF ADULT MALE AFRICAN ELEPHANT "BENNY
In 1972, the Fort Worth Zoological Association purchased a small male African
elephant which resided in the Lincoln Park Children's Zoo. Since that
time, the elephant has grown into a 5-ton mature bull .
-While he is still somewhat manageable by our elephant handlers, he is surplus
to our program at the Fort Worth Zoo. The Zoo has developed their elephant
management program around the endangered Asian species.
For a number of years the Zoo staff has attempted to find a new home for
Benny in another zoo without success. Recently we have had a proposal
from Randall Moore to relocate our African bull elephant back to Africa
at the Philanesberg National Park with others of his kind. The Zoo staff
has researched this proposal and are satisfied that it would be in the
best interest of the animal and the Fort Worth Zoo to donate Benny to this
relocation project.
We have secured the approval from the Fort Worth Zoological Association
to make this donation.
The move would represent a savings to the City of Fort Worth in the amount
of approximately $15 per day in food cost and the manpower necessary to
provide care for this animal .
�%L- ouglas Harman
City Manager
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-ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS