The new Elephant Trek at the Cincinnati Zoo is now open

CINCINNATI (WXIX) — Visitors to the Cincinnati Zoo now have the opportunity to feel like they’ve traveled to Asia with the zoo’s newest exhibit.

The Harry and Linda Fath Elephant Trek opened on Tuesday, October 1, showcasing Southeast Asian habitats with two dozen species of elephant ears, lemongrass, banana trees and, of course, elephants.

“Elephant Trek is part of our investment in a long-term breeding program and will help secure the future of elephants at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Through global partnerships, we are also doing our part to protect elephant populations in the forests of Southeast Asia,” zoo officials wrote.

The new exhibit includes swimming pools, streams, overhead feeding stations, mud wallows and entertainment opportunities for the elephants.

Cincinnati Zoo’s beloved Asian elephants Mai Thai, Schottzie, Jati, Sabu, SheRa, Anak and Sanjay will all be living in the Harry and Linda Elephant Trek.

“The idea was to create a forested habitat that followed the streams to the open grassland where the elephants would graze at the watering hole,” said Steve Foltz, Cincinnati Zoo horticulture director. “As you enter the space, you feel a strong presence of tropical plants, including large elephant ears, tropical bananas and Chinese fan palms, native to Southeast Asia. Mixed in with the tropical plants are hardy plants that look like they are tropical.”

There is no additional fee for admission to the Elephant Trek, the zoo said.

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