County Executive Adam Bello announces Felix the African elephant has arrived at Seneca Park Zoo to join its established female herd

Monroe County, New York – A new chapter is beginning for the elephant herd at Seneca Park Zoo as Felix, a female African elephant, arrives in Rochester after nearly two decades at the Maryland Zoo. The move brings another older elephant into a herd already known for its long history and experience caring for the species.

Monroe County Executive Adam Bello and Seneca Park Zoo officials announced Felix’s arrival following a decision by the Maryland Zoo’s elephant care team that Seneca Park Zoo would be the right place for her next stage of life. Felix arrived safely Tuesday afternoon, August 25, accompanied by members of the Maryland Zoo’s animal care staff.

The move is part of a change at the Maryland Zoo, which is transitioning toward becoming a facility that hosts all-male elephants. Felix was the zoo’s only female elephant, and Maryland staff wanted to find a facility with the experience and resources needed to care for an aging, post-reproductive female.

Seneca Park Zoo was selected because of its specialized elephant program and its long history with the animals. The zoo has been home to elephants for more than 100 years and currently has three African elephants, Genny C, Lilac and Moki.

“Seneca Park Zoo has been home to elephants for more than a century, and our current herd of Genny C, Lilac, and Moki have introduced more than ten million people to this extraordinary and endangered species,” said County Executive Adam Bello. “Seneca Park Zoo is the only zoo in New York State with African elephants, and adding Felix to our herd confirms our ongoing commitment to be the leader in care for geriatric African elephants.”

Felix was born in Zimbabwe and has spent almost 20 years living at the Maryland Zoo. Her arrival in Rochester gives her an opportunity to live with other female elephants of a similar age, while also benefiting from Seneca Park Zoo’s experience with geriatric elephant care.

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The zoo’s staff says caring for older elephants requires more than simply monitoring their physical health. Their needs can change with age, and experienced caregivers must pay close attention to behavior, social relationships and individual routines.

“Seneca Park Zoo is known for its expertise in caring for post-reproductive female elephants,” said Monroe County Zoo Director Bob Lee. “Our staff has a combined 86 years of elephant care experience, but just as important is the trust they have built with the elephants over many years. Those relationships, combined with that depth of experience, allow us to understand and respond to the complex physical, physiological, psychological, and social needs of each individual elephant.”

That experience was one of the important reasons Felix’s move was considered a good fit. Rather than treating elephant care as a one-size-fits-all process, the Seneca Park team will have to learn Felix’s habits and allow her time to become familiar with her new home.

Seneca Park Zoo’s role extends beyond caring for the elephants living in Rochester. The zoo has also supported conservation efforts aimed at protecting African elephants in the wild.

For more than a decade, the Zoo Society has provided grants to the International Elephant Foundation. Fundraising efforts, including ZooBrew, have helped generate nearly $100,000 for the foundation over the years. The money has supported work aimed at reducing conflict between elephants and people as well as anti-poaching efforts.

The zoo sees its work with older female elephants as one part of a broader conservation effort. By providing a suitable home for older elephants that are no longer part of breeding programs, Seneca Park Zoo can also help other zoos maintain and expand younger breeding herds.

“We also play a very specific role among zoos caring for elephants,” Lee stated. “By providing an exceptional home for older, post-reproductive females, we help create opportunities for other institutions to grow and strengthen breeding herds. It is one piece of a much larger conservation puzzle, with all of us working together toward the long-term survival of African elephants.”

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The Association of Zoos and Aquariums also welcomed the move. Seneca Park Zoo and Maryland Zoo are both accredited by the organization, which promotes standards for animal care, veterinary services and zoo operations.

“Cooperation between AZA-accredited members like Seneca Park Zoo and Maryland Zoo is the essential ingredient in caring for elephants. The skilled animal care teams and veterinary professionals make this a wonderful next step in Felix’s journey,” said Dan Ashe, president and CEO for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. “The Seneca Park Zoo has been AZA-accredited since 1979, reflecting its commitment to achieving and maintaining the global gold standard for modern zoos and aquariums. We commend the Seneca Park Zoo for their specialized care, allowing these four ladies to grow older in a socialized herd with both grace and dignity.”

Before Felix made the trip to Rochester, members of the Seneca Park Zoo team traveled to Maryland to prepare for the transition. Zoo Veterinarian Dr. Chris McKinney and Assistant Curator Lindsay Brinda visited the Maryland Zoo to observe Felix and learn about the training and routines she already knew.

That preparation was important because introducing an elephant to a new facility involves more than transporting the animal. Staff members need to understand what the elephant is accustomed to and determine how those routines can be carried over into the new environment.

McKinney was also able to speak directly with Maryland’s veterinary staff about Felix’s medical history. Overall, he said, she is in good health.

“Felix has a great temperament and is easy to work with,” said McKinney. “I was able to discuss her medical history with Maryland’s veterinary staff and Felix is in good health overall. She does have a cataract in one eye and is blind on that side but she has learned how to still monitor her surroundings.”

Brinda also has a personal connection to Felix. She worked with the elephant earlier in her career, making the opportunity to care for her again particularly meaningful.

“We have successfully managed geriatric elephants for years and are passionate with their care,” said Brinda. “Early in my career I was able to work with Felix and fell in love with her back then. It is an honor to be able to be part of her life now.”

Maryland Zoo officials said the decision was based on both Felix’s individual needs and the social opportunities available at Seneca Park Zoo.

“We chose Seneca Park Zoo because they have a great elephant program that will continue Felix’s excellent care within a herd of similarly-aged females that will provide many social opportunities for Felix,” said Erin Cantwell Grimm, Mammal Curator at Maryland Zoo.

Felix’s arrival does not mean she will immediately join the other three elephants. Seneca Park Zoo plans to introduce the animals gradually over the next several weeks. The process will move at a pace that is comfortable for each elephant, giving staff time to observe how Felix responds to her new surroundings and how the existing herd responds to her.

For now, Felix is settling in and exploring her new home. Zoo visitors may be able to catch a glimpse of her during this adjustment period, although her introduction to Genny C, Lilac and Moki will take place slowly.

The arrival gives Seneca Park Zoo a fourth African elephant and strengthens a herd that has already played a major role in connecting visitors with the species. At the same time, Felix’s move reflects a larger cooperative effort among accredited zoos to provide appropriate care for elephants at different stages of their lives.

For Felix, the journey from Maryland to Rochester marks a significant change after nearly 20 years in one place. Her new home is intended to give her continued specialized care, companionship and time to adjust on her own terms as she becomes part of the Seneca Park Zoo herd.