One year since Anura moved to the male enclosure

At Tama Zoo, on December 25, 2024, Asian Elephant "Anura" (male, estimated 73 years old) was moved from the female enclosure to the male enclosure, and "Vidura" (male, 18 years old) was moved from the male enclosure to the female enclosure.
Please see here for details on the circumstances that led to the replacement of the animal enclosures.
This time, we'll be giving you an update on Anura, one year after she was moved to a new enclosure.

Over the past year, while keeping Anura in the male enclosure, we have observed several positive changes compared to when she was previously kept in the female enclosure.
Today, I'd like to talk about two of those changes.

The first thing is that Anura started using the pool.
While they were being kept in the female enclosure, they never seemed to use the pool, but once they were moved to the male enclosure, we gradually got them used to using the pool there.
Specifically, to help Anura understand that "this is a pool and a safe place," we initially set the water level low and gradually increased it while observing Anura's reaction.

As a result, last summer, his first summer after moving, he was able to swim in a pool that was full of water.
Swimming pools are not only a place to cool down, but also a place where you can experience different kinds of movement and physical exertion than you would on land by exercising in the water.
Furthermore, using the stairs when entering and exiting the building can naturally increase your overall physical activity.
Additionally, during the winter months, we drain all the water from the pool and install feeders in the empty pool.
This allows Anura to use the entire enclosure to move around, even in winter, just as she does in summer.

The second benefit is that we can now use new feeder equipment.
This is a feature not found in the female enclosure's free-range area; it consists of a board attached to a steel pipe fence with several holes just large enough for the females to stick their noses through.
This board limits the areas where the animal can stick its nose out, and also allows for flexible placement of the feeder, thus changing the animal's foraging behavior.
　
As a result, Anura began to engage in more ingenious methods of searching for and obtaining food, and we also observed mental changes such as increased physical activity and a more proactive approach to enrichment.

It's been a year since Anura moved to the male enclosure, and she's gotten used to her new environment and found her own way of spending her time.
When you visit the park, be sure to pay attention to Anura as she enters the pool area and skillfully takes food from the feeder.
We will continue to create an environment where Anura can live a vibrant life.

[Tama Zoo]

(February 13, 2026)