Reid Park Zoo's 13,000 pound bull elephant, Mabu, returned to the zoo's herd earlier this week after a two-year stay in San Diego.
Mabu first came to Reid Park Zoo in 2012 to establish a herd of five elephants for the zoo's exhibit, Expedition Tanzania. He successfully bred with one of the zoo's female elephants, Semba, and a female calf, Nandi, was born two years later, according to a news release from the zoo.
In 2016, Mabu left for Tucson for breeding opportunities with the San Diego Zoo's herd. He rejoins Reid Park Zoo elephants Lungile, Punga, Sundzu, Semba and Nandi.
“In the wild, elephants live in a matriarchal society where the males often move in and out of herds for breeding and social opportunities,” says Dr. Sue Tygielski, the Reid Park Zoo’s Interim Zoo Administrator. “We are happy to be welcoming Mabu back to Tucson and are working closely with our colleagues from San Diego to ensure Mabu, as well as the rest of the herd at Reid Park Zoo, have a smooth transition.”
