Tsavo joins Tucson’s herd of all female elephants.

What was once a family of five is now a family of six.

No, Reid Park Zoo's matriarch elephant Semba isn't expecting another baby. This time, the herd is welcoming a 16-year-old male named Tsavo.

Tsavo joins Tucson's herd of all females that includes Semba, allomother Lungile, 10-year-old Nandi, 4-year-old Penzi and 7-month-old Meru.

Reid Park Zoo is welcoming 16-year-old Tsavo to the elephant herd.

"Tsavo is a wonderful addition to Reid Park Zoo and we cannot wait to get to know him better as he makes our zoo home," Nancy Kluge, Reid Park Zoo’s president and CEO, said in a news release.

Tsavo is coming to Tucson's zoo on a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums'Β African Elephant Species Survival Plan, which works with zoos to "maximize the health, well-being and genetic diversity of the species," Reid Park Zoo says.

above: Reid Park Zoo is welcoming 16-year-old Tsavo to the elephant herd. left: Tsavo is settling in to his new habitat at Reid Park Zoo.

In the wild, male elephants commonly move between herds, and Tsavo's move mimics that natural behavior. The last time Reid Park Zoo was home to a male elephant was in 2022, when Mabu moved to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo.

"Tsavo is doing well, settling into his new habitat and getting to know his new care team," the zoo says. "As he becomes more comfortable, he will begin to get to know the rest of the herd."

For now, you may be able to spot Tsavo in the far side of the elephant habitat or via the elephant cam on the zoo's website.

Tsavo is settling in to his new habitat at Reid Park Zoo.Β 


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Gloria was born and raised in Tucson and is a 2018 University of Arizona grad. From wildflowers to wildlife, she loves all things Tucson and hopes to share her love of the city with readers ✨