The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Asian elephant extravaganza
SYRACUSE, N.Y. >> The Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo will celebrate the zoo’s Asian elephant herd and the native countries of Asian elephants with Asian Elephant Extravaganza on Saturday, Aug. 17.
The event runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and is presented by the Friends of the Zoo in partnershipwith the Syracuse University South Asia Center and with support froma New York State Council on the Arts grant.
This year the popular annual event features seventh-month-old babyAsian elephant Ajay as well as the zoo’s expansion of the Helga Beck Asian Elephant Preserve from 4.5 acres to over 6 acres.
The zoo’s retired elephant matriarch, Siri, will make an appearance to inaugurate the preserve’s new Elephant Crossing and paint one of her masterpieces to be raffled off to benefit Asian elephant conservation.
Asian Elephant Extravaganza highlights the cultures of South Asian countries where Asian elephants originate — with performances of dance, music and art from South Asian nations such as India, Indonesia and Thailand, as well as elephant demonstrations and keeper chats starring the zoo’s elephant family.
Presentations will include Classical Indian dancers, performances by the Buffalo Gamelan Club, a percussion ensemble playing traditional instruments of Java and Bali, and a Sound Journey with yoga practitioner Helena Zera playing a crystal lyre and alchemy bowls.
Zoo Director Ted Fox said this year’s Asian Elephant Extravaganza occurs during the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ first ever Asian Elephant Awareness Month. AZA chose August for a campaign to raise awareness of the combined efforts of AZA-accredited zoos to save this critically endangered species from extinction.
Fewer than 35,000 Asian elephants are estimated to remain in the wild. The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is one of 30 AZA zoos participating in the Species Survival Plan for Asian elephants and one of only 11 breeding facilities for Asian elephants in North America.
The day includes elephant care and enrichment demonstrations including Asian elephant matriarch Siri’s inauguration of the zoo’s new Elephant Crossing at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday. Other animal demonstrations include elephant foot care, a watermelon smash and ice treat enrichments for the elephant herd.
The event is free for zoo members andwith paid zoo admission.