Today (April 30, 2004), the "Elephant Forest" opened. A commemorative ceremony was held, and the elephants finally entered their newly completed enclosure!
That said, of course, this wasn't the first time they'd been let out into the enclosure; they'd been gradually getting used to it since the 26th.

As we reported in last week's news, the old elephant enclosure was completed in 1968. Construction began in 2002, the new elephant enclosure was completed in May 2003, and now the new enclosure has been completed.
The old enclosure was mostly concrete, but the new enclosure uses more soil. Also, the moat has been removed, and the ground where visitors stand and the elephants' exercise area are directly connected, separated only by a fence.

The three female elephants, Daya, Surya, and Uthai, went out into the enclosure and explored the area, using their trunks to smear sand on their backs. There is a pool in the enclosure. If you go around to the side with the pool from the outside, the elephants are right in front of you, separated only by glass! On this sunny and warm day, Uthai and Daya immediately showed us their spirited bathing skills.
At first, we all stepped in slowly and cautiously, but Uthai, who was the first to get in, leaned to the side to submerge her whole body in the water and shook her nose to splash water everywhere. When Daya got into the pool and submerged her whole body, it looked like the water was going to run out.
Atti has also appeared in the male elephant's enclosure. This one also has a pool. There are explanatory signs about elephants placed throughout the elephant enclosure.

Photo above: From left to right, Surya, Daya, Utai
Photo: Panoramic view of the female's enclosure
Photo below: Elephant statue