|
MEDIA
ADVISORY
March 21, 2009
CONTACT:
Kara Bussabarger
kara.bussabarger@louisvilleky.gov
502-238-5331 (502-744-5639 Media Cell)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Happy Birthday Scotty!
Baby elephant celebrates 2nd birthday
Baby African elephant Scotty celebrated his
second birthday today, March 21, in front of a large crowd gathered
around Louisville Zoo’s elephant yard to commemorate the milestone.
Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson even deemed
March 21 to be “Scotty the Elephant Day” in celebration of Scotty’s
second birthday.
As the crowd sang “Happy Birthday,” Scotty,
along with mom Mikki and aunt Punch, dashed to the specially-made
birthday cake and gobbled up the Timothy hay, apples and carrots.
Scotty then studied his gift, a large plastic
ball used for enrichment, before kicking and rolling it around.
“Scotty is a great elephant,” said Dave
Campbell, Louisville Zoo’s Elephant Area Supervisor. “Turning 2 is a big
deal, and we are very excited that the community came out to celebrate
with us and see how much he has grown.”
Scotty weighed in at 1,800 pounds and measured
5 foot tall.
Scotty also demonstrated some of his training
to the public, and other Zoo animals like the orangutans, camels and
lions also celebrated the momentous occasion with special animal
enrichment.
Scotty Background
Scotty was born March 18, 2007, at 8:45 p.m. at
the Louisville Zoo. At birth, he weighed in at 285 pounds and was 37.5
inches tall. He is the first elephant born in Kentucky and the Zoo’s
40-year history.
He currently likes to play with tree branches
and his favorite treat is bananas.
Photos by Robert
Kemnitz, Louisville Zoo
***
The Louisville Zoo, a non-profit organization and state zoo of
Kentucky, is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our
planet by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience
for visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation
education. The Zoo is accredited by the American Association of
Museums (AAM) and by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
For more information, visit www.louisvillezoo.org.
###
|
