POWELL, Ohio — A male elephant has moved from an Arkansas sanctuary to an Ohio zoo, with caretakers hoping the animal will help create a genetically diverse zoo population of Asian elephants.
The 23-year-old named Hank arrived Thursday at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Plans are to breed him with the zoo's females, Connie and Phoebe.
Zoo Assistant Curator Harry Peachey says Hank has previously sired a calf.
The elephant came from Riddle's Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary in Arkansas. He was born at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and has also lived at the Bronx Zoo and at Have Trunk Will Travel in California.
Asian elephants are endangered. Thirteen have been born over the past decade at nine U.S. zoos in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.