African Elephant Crossing > Web Alert

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
to Unveil Model of New Elephant Exhibit

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo on Friday will reveal big plans to build a world-class elephant habitat and conservation center at the site of its 1950s-era Pachyderm Building.

African Elephant Crossing will be four times larger than the Zoo's current elephant exhibit.

African Elephant Crossing, which is one of the Zoo's most ambitious capital projects ever, will quadruple the amount of Zoo space dedicated to these majestic animals and provide them with stimulating surroundings similar to their native savanna.

A scale model and color drawings of the 5-acre, $25 million exhibit will be unveiled before members of the media and public at 10 a.m. Friday in the Zoo's Exhibit Hall just beyond the front gate. The model will remain on display indefinitely for all to see, and groundbreaking for African Elephant Crossing is set for late 2007 with a 2010 opening.

Starting Friday, you can visit www.clemetzoo.com/elephants/ to learn more about African Elephant Crossing, see architect's drawings of the state-of-the-art facility and read about other important elephant conservation efforts at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, home to more than 3,000 animals representing 600 species, is located at 3900 Wildlife Way near Interstates 71, 480 and 90. The Zoo is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily except December 25 and January 1.

(For more information, call Tom O'Konowitz x3310 or Sue Allen x3338 at 216-661-6500)