Baby Zuri at Hogle Zoo

Happy Birthday Zuri!

2011-08-10T07:23:00.001-07:00

We hope someone around here has a couple elephant-sized candles on hand because today marks a very special day at Hogle Zoo - Zuri's 2nd birthday!

It's hard to believe that it was two years ago when a tiny elephant made her way into our world. But in two years, some truly incredible things have happened as we've watched Zuri progress from elephant baby to elephant two year old.

For starters, while Zuri started out much like any other baby - eating, sleeping, and staying close to mom - she's progressed in her two years. Yes, she still likes to eat, sleep and be close to her mom, but she's also having a lot of fun training with her keepers. Each day her keepers work with her to do things like showing her feet, spinning, stretching out, opening her mouth, and much more.

All of these movements enable her keepers to check her whole body every day to ensure she continues growing as a healthy young elephant.

One other thing you may notice now that wasn't exactly visible even half a year ago is Zuri's tusk! Yes, you can see it on the left side of her face and it is growing steadily. Pretty soon her other tusk will poke through and you'll be able to see them both before you know it.

Zuri has also grown to be very social with a special lady at Hogle Zoo - Dari! Zuri and Dari were finally introduced to each other, and it just so happens that they enjoy spending time together.

And, now that she's big enough, Zuri has been spending some of the hotter summer days in the pool yard, where she has been seen cautiously dipping into the shallow parts of the pool under the careful watch of mom.

A lot has happened in two years, and we're sure we will be saying the same thing another two years from now! But for today, a very happy 2nd birthday to our little girl Zuri!

Three's Company

2011-07-05T08:45:00.001-07:00

It's a moment everyone has been waiting for, and finally happened this month.

It was a bright, sunny morning. Both the Kopi and Working yards at Elephant Encounter were open and full of food (a helpful distraction for a first interaction) when the doors were opened and Dari, Christie and Zuri all ran outside to be together for the first time.

The big step was something for which Hogle Zoo had been planning from the time of Zuri's birth.

The first hurdle for Utah's favorite baby elephant was size. Her animal care team put a lot of weight on, well, Zuri's weight. A healthy size and weight would mean Zuri could fend for herself should the resident matriarch, Dari, decide to try any roughhousing.

Once the tyke was the right size, the elephant keepers wanted to give Zuri a protected environment in which to interact with Dari. This involved introducing the two with protective barriers between them. It gave them a chance to interact with sight, sound and smell before moving on to the moment of touch. And, to everyone's delight, the interaction went well.

Next up was time for interaction between Christie and Dari. You might be wondering, if they spent time together before Zuri's birth, why would they need to be reintroduced. Well, it's similar to when two humans haven't seen each other for a year. There's an initial phase of readjustment. But, of course, the ladies did just fine and paved the way for the moment everyone was waiting for.

The trio made their way out into the yard on the morning of their first time together, and it couldn't have gone any better. Zuri spent time following Dari around, playing with her mom Christie, and eating all the food she could get her trunk around.

The three have continued to spend time together as a herd and Dari has resumed her matriarch role with Zuri now looking to her, as well as to her mom, for direction. And, if you were to ask one of the keepers at Elephant Encounter, they'd tell you that now Zuri spends a lot of time with Dari, and the two seem to truly enjoy each other's company.

With this big step accomplished, Zuri now has other achievements to reach in her future. Namely, pool play. Zuri has spent time with Christie in the pool yard, and has even dipped her toes into the shallow end pf the pool, with the water dropped to a baby elephant appropriate level. The hope is that soon, Zuri will venture all the way into the water and be able to enjoy a cool spot in the warm summer months.

And as for the three of them, chances are you'll be seeing them playing together more and more as summer stretches on at Hogle Zoo.

It's Summer Fun For Zuri!!!

2011-06-02T11:18:00.000-07:00

At a resounding 18 months old and weighing in at nearly 1,500 lbs, it's just plain fun to watch Zuri, who is growing further and further away from that 251-pound baby we all met in the fall of 2009.

And, now that things are finally heating up here in Utah, you can see Zuri on a daily basis at Elephant Encounter where she'll likely be busy playing with her big, red boomer ball. The cute little elephant isn't quite big enough to walk over the ball yet, much like her mother can, but she sure tries and quite often she can be seen getting high-centered atop the ball and clumsily rolling of and back on to her feet.

Working with her trainers daily, Zuri is learning new behaviors that help to keep her healthy. Since you saw Zuri last summer she has learned to show her caretakers the bottom of her feet so they can make sure nothing gets stuck in them. She also opens her mouth wide so they can peek inside and check on her dental health.

Two special times each day at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. you watch Zuri do these and other behaviors during the Pachyderm Program. The Program is a great place for guests to learn what it takes to keep an elephant healthy and happy, as well as what the keepers do on a day-to-day basis.

But, if you aren't able to catch that, chances are you will get to see her in her yard doing something funny, and once she really tires herself out she'll lay right down at her mother's feet and nap.

Tusk Time!

2011-03-01T09:29:00.000-08:00

While most parents treasure the appearance of a child's first tooth, at Utah's Hogle Zoo we treasure a more rare moment above a molar breaking through the gum - the appearance of an elephant's first tusk. Just this week, Zuri's tusk on her left side appeared, marking yet another landmark in her growth.

"We're really happy to see her first tusk come through," Elephant Manager Doug Tomkinson said. "It's yet another step in her progress as a young, growing elephant. It will be really exciting when everyone is able to see it."

Much like our human teeth, tusks are more than a decoration, they are a functional tool. When her tusks are grown, Zuri will be able to dig, as well as better move and manipulate a variety of the objects in her yard.

As of now, the tusk is the size of a pencil, but this is just the start. The length, size and growth rate of Zuri's tusks are hereditary, but if Tomkinson had to make a guess, chances are you'll get to see them some time this summer.

But, for now, we're just watching it grow and waiting for the other one to appear as well. In the meantime, we're happy to report that Zuri surpassed the 1,300 pound mark and stands at 4 feet 8 inches tall.

Baby it's cold outside

2010-12-14T13:31:00.000-08:00

Baby it's cold outside… really! But with the cold comes the holiday season and snow, which Zuri seems to love when she can get her trunk on it.

Something else Zuri likes to do in the winter - stay warm. She has radiant heaters, as well as a large heated concrete pad in her outdoor exhibit, which usually do the trick to keep her comfy. But, when the temperature drops too much, she hurries inside because her skin is still baby soft - for an elephant, at least - and she needs the extra help staying warm.

With each snowfall, Zuri gets to pop outside a couple times a day for fresh air and sunshine. She loves to plow through the snow. If you're lucky, you can catch her balling up piles of snow with her trunk and shoveling it into her mouth for a rather chilly winter treat.

Like most youngsters, Zuri loves the Christmas season. In addition to the ZooLights! that are all around, Zuri gets the occasional gift from her friends in Utah. If you're wondering what Zuri likes for Christmas, look no further than the Amazon wish list for her here. This page is filled with all sorts of toys with which Zuri likes to play - and eventually destroy thanks to her elephant strength!

Here's hoping you can catch her out and about on those sunny winter days this holiday season, because we know Zuri would love to wish you a Happy New Year in person!

It's almost pumpkin time!

2010-10-26T15:34:00.000-07:00

If you were here for last year's Boo at the Zoo, you may have seen Zuri smash a few pumpkins as she got into the Halloween spirit. But, you may also have noticed that Zuri was much more fond of squashing the seasonal gourds than she was of eating them.

This year, Head Elephant Keeper Doug Tomkinson thinks all of that will change, thanks in large part to Zuri's new propensity for eating, as opposed to nursing. That's right, Zuri has ramped up her eating habits to involve many more solid foods, and less nursing.

Furthering the likelihood that our little girl will smash, and then eat her pumpkin treat is the fact that Zuri has been busy enjoying squash in her diet lately.

"She had pumpkins last year, and all she knew was to smash them," Tomkinson said. "But now she's eaten large squash and she'll likely have a better time eating the pumpkins."

So, for those of you out there who want to see Baby Zuri and her mommy smashing pumpkins and enjoying treats for Halloween, look no further than Boo at the Zoo on Oct. 30 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be candy for kids 12 and under, and a lot of fun going on in Zuri's neck of the woods. Remember, Boo at the Zoo happens rain or shine!

And, sorry folks, she won't be wearing a costume. They don't make a ballet tutu in her size!

It's Official!

2010-09-30T13:36:00.000-07:00

Zuri hit the 1,000 lb mark today. Of course, that's a mere fraction of what she will be some day, but it's exciting none the less!

1,000 Pounds and Still So Small!

2010-09-16T12:28:00.000-07:00

While most people aren't too fond of tracking an expanding waistline, our little Zuri is nearing a milestone weight that it is nearly impossible for a human to even think about… 1,000 pounds.

But considering that adult African elephants can weigh up to 12,000 pounds, at only one twelfth of what will one day be her weight, Zuri has quite a way to go before hitting full-grown status.

But still, Zuri nearing the 1,000 pound marker is a very fun time for us and, to give her fans some perspective on what the weight really means, below you will find some other things that also weigh 1,000 pounds:

10 hellfire missiles

119.8 Gallons of water

Just under 1/2 of a classic VW Beetle (hard top)

Just over 3 Shaquille O'Neals

222 bricks

181,436.948 pennies

1,000 16 ounce cups of coffee

Of course, even at 1,000 pounds, Zuri is still a lot cuter than all of the items listed above. So, if you have the chance, come see her while she is still small - and she's still very small and cute. In fact, many of our guests she still looks the same size she was when she was born!

And, don't worry, we will be sure and let you know the day she hits the exact number.

Plan ahead-- Gifts for Zuri's birthday!

2010-07-19T17:23:00.000-07:00

Can you believe that Zuri the elephant is nearly one-year-old? It seems like only yesterday that keepers at Elephant Encounter were gearing up for a really big birth. Already Zuri has brought so much joy to Hogle Zoo staff and guests and next month we're going to celebrate her day.

If you're looking to help out Zuri, as well as Utah's Hogle Zoo, be sure to check out our Enrichment wish list now available on Amazon.com There are items you can purchase for Zuri's upcoming birthday party, as well as needs for other animals at Hogle Zoo.

This is an easy way for you to help our animals get more enrichment items into their exhibits. Through enrichment, zookeepers provide opportunities to learn, interact and exhibit natural behaviors- resulting in healthier, happier animals. The donations to the animal enrichment program at Utah's Hogle Zoo are tax deductible. Please include contact information so that we can acknowledge your generous gift.

Who can resist such a face?

Also plan on joining us for Zuri's first birthday party coming up Saturday August 14 from 11 am to 2 pm. Take a look at Zuri's first year scrapbook created by Stampin' Up! and sign a birthday message to her. Watch her open her presents and cake during a special birthday program at 10:30 am, and after that there will be free cupcakes for the first 500 guests in the Oasis Plaza. There will also be make-and-take crafts from Robert's Art and Craft and Stampin Up! for the kids.

It's going to be quite a wild party!

You could visit Zuri's African ancestors!

2010-07-11T09:07:00.001-07:00

How would you like to win a trip to Kenya and visit the land of Zuri's ancestors? Now here's your chance! You can with the Zuri African Safari Giveaway! FOX 13 has teamed up with Utah’s Hogle Zoo for an amazing contest.

First, search for Zuri, Hogle Zoo’s baby African Elephant, located somewhere new each weekday on Fox13now.com. Remember what page you found her on that day and what she was doing. Then, tune in to Fox 13 News at Nine that same night for your chance to call in to the FOX 13 Contest Line.

The first caller who can tell the folks at Fox the correct location Zuri the baby elephant was found that day and what she was doing on Fox 13’s website, wins a fabulous Park City getaway. Plus, daily winners will be invited to Zuri’s Birthday Party on August 14th at Utah’s Hogle Zoo.

All daily winners present at Zuri’s Birthday Party will be entered into a random drawing for the Grand Prize, a trip for two to go on an African Safari in May 2011!

Here's a hint: Follow us on Twitter at @Hogle_Zoo and "Like" us on Facebook because we'll post a little clue each day so it's that much easier to find Zuri on Fox's website!

Zuri's in grocery stores!

2010-07-10T07:33:00.000-07:00

Spotted this poster of Baby Zuri at the grocery store the other day and it seems like she's everywhere this summer! On billboards. On posters. And why shouldn't she be? Zuri's amazing!

Pick up a 12 or 24 pack of Dr. Pepper or Diet Dr. Pepper cans that feature the exclusive “Baby Zuri” can panel offer – bring the can to the Zoo – and if you Buy One Regularly Priced Adult Ticket, you’ll Receive a Child’s Ticket FREE.

And don't forget to visit Zuri while you're at Hogle Zoo, she's even better in person!

Zuri's Mud Puddle

2010-07-06T06:53:00.001-07:00

What's better than cooling off on a hot summer day than in a nice mud puddle? Zuri's got that one down!

Target Training

2010-06-29T18:23:00.000-07:00

We've told you a little about Zuri's training... now we'll show you! That yellow stick in the keeper's hand is called a target. It's got a soft foam tip that is brightly colored so that Zuri knows where the keepers want her to move. And when she touches the target with her trunk, she gets a treat!

You can also see that you're never too old for training, as momma Christie does some work herself!

We're gonna' need a bigger boat...

2010-06-22T09:26:00.000-07:00

...or wading pool.

The keepers say they go through "quite a few" wading pools for little Zuri, but try to reuse them as often as possible! "We just bang out the dents and let her go for it again and again," they added for some guests who were watching Zuri "swim." Too cute, and Zuri is such a good baby.

You can see more videos of Zuri and more on Hogle Zoo's Official YouTube Channel!

Running Through the Sprinklers

2010-06-19T16:53:00.000-07:00

The young 'uns always love running through the sprinklers!

Just another summery Saturday with a cool water hose and Zuri at Hogle Zoo...

They grow up so fast!!

2010-06-17T17:20:00.000-07:00

Right now little Zuri is 756 pounds. Little? Well, compared to Christie who weighs in at about seven thousand pounds! Not only do the little ones grow up so quickly in weight, but Zuri is also growing through her training.

One thing the Elephant Encounter keepers are working on is separating Zuri and Christie for a short amount of time to work on training separately. For a few minutes a day, Zuri goes out into the yard by herself and there were even a couple of times where Zuri did an Elephant Encounter program all by herself! The crowd was thrilled and Zuri got some grapes-- her new favorite training treat. It doesn't happen for very long, Zuri still wants to be with her momma, and the two are always happy to see each other.

We'll have some great Zuri pictures posted this weekend now that the weather is cooperating, but in the meantime why don't you check out Zuri and Christie during one of our two daily programs at Elephant Encounter? The training programs are at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm. Also, if you need a little Zuri fix while you're sitting at your computer right now, be sure to check out our Facebook page photos submitted by staff and followers and "like" us if you don't already!

Summer of Magpies

2010-06-06T07:55:00.000-07:00

You know summer has arrived when you can find those twice-daily programs at Elephant Encounter. Visitors are thrilled to see Baby Zuri working alongside with her mom Christie each day, while learning more about how our keepers make sure the elephants are healthy.

Outside of the programs, however, Zuri has quite a bit of fun chasing magpies around her yard. Keepers talk about how Zuri really makes sure her yard is "secure!" They say, "Zuri sees the birds land and then readies for a charge by putting her ears up and back and running straight for them." Of course, nobody gets hurt, but like a baby, Zuri is curious about everything she encounters.

Elephant programs at Elephant Encounter are every day at 10:30 and 1:30. Be sure to get there early for a good spot and be sure to ask questions!

Summer School

2010-05-31T09:26:00.000-07:00

Though many of your kids might be out of school for the summer, this is the time that Baby Zuri is in school learning and training with her keepers. One of the keepers at Elephant Encounter recently said that they work on Zuri's training four to six times a day now that the weather is nice outside.

Right now Zuri is working on body positioning training to help the keepers take better care of her. If Zuri learns to back up, or present her side now, it will greatly ease the care in which she receives. Body positioning helps make it easier to bathe Zuri, as well as give inspections to make sure she's healthy and happy.

We always practice positive reinforcement with our Hogle Zoo animals, and Baby Zuri is no exception. If she doesn't feel like working during her training sessions, she doesn't have to, but it's hard for her to resist when she's got some of her favorite treats for rewards! Just like a little baby, Zuri's tastes for reward treats are changing. For a few months, she really loved pomegranate juice for rewards; now she's off the juice and looks forward to bananas and bread for a training job well done.

Remember when you come to Hogle Zoo this summer, Zuri's still a baby! Though she weighs in at just a little bit under 750 pounds, she's still growing quickly and will celebrate her first birthday later on this summer! It's also Dari's 50th birthday (she's the oldest African elephant in accredited North American zoos!) this summer, so keep an eye on our events calendar here to make sure you're part of the festivities.

Training and the meaning of "Foot"

2010-04-15T13:43:00.000-07:00

Zuri loves today’s springtime weather! In fact, we’ve hit a major milestone for this time of year—Zuri and Christie have access to their outside yard where they can choose to be in or out at night because the temperatures are so mild.

Just the other morning when our keepers came in to start their day, they had a little laugh when they saw sleeping Zuri; They found her outside in the working yard at Elephant Encounter, sound asleep in her kiddie pool! She’s such a funny baby playing in her hay-filled pool and then getting all tuckered out.

Zuri’s training is coming along nicely too, right now she’s learning “foot” which is a very important behavior for elephants. “Foot” is essential to help the keepers take great care of the elephant’s foot pads. When Zuri learns “foot,” she’ll know to present to the keeper the underside of her foot so they can make sure that there is nothing stuck in her foot to cause any problems, and this will also help with care of her toenails.

Pomegranate Juice Treats

2010-04-07T15:09:00.000-07:00

With the snow from this week's storm melting, Zuri will be on exhibit more often toward the end of this week. Still, she is benefiting from the training she is getting from her keepers as she and Christie gear up for this summer's training programs.

Zuri's current favorite method of positive reinforcement? The pomegranate juice treat!! Just the other day, Zuri was getting a pomegranate juice reward for a training session well-done and was so excited she did a headstand! We don't know whose reinforcement was more positive; Zuri's treat or the keepers getting the treat of seeing Zuri's enjoyment.

Hogle Zoo will continue seasonal Pachyderm Programs at Elephant Encounter beginning May 1. These programs showcase the training and behavioral enrichment provided to the elephants, and Zuri will be there right alongside her mom. There are two Pachyderm Programs every day: one at 10:30 am and one at 1:30 pm.

Zuri update on 97.1 ZHT today

2010-03-26T13:34:00.001-07:00

If you're in Utah, you know how the spring weather goes: sunny one minute, snowing the next. Right now Zuri and Christie do not have a regular schedule as to when they're going to be out in the working yard. Fear not! We still have a Zuri update for you!

This morning, Lead Elephant Keeper Doug Tomkinson was on 97.1 ZHT talking to the Z Morning Zoo about the latest Zuri news. If you missed it, why not check out the podcast this weekend? Then you'll have your Zuri fix, and we'll bring you more from Elephant Encounter very soon.

Head to the "Podcast" section on 97.1 ZHT and then scroll down to 971 ZHt's Morning Zoo 3-26-10 Part 1 to listen to the segment as it aired live this morning with Frankie, DB and Jessica.

Springtime with Zuri

2010-03-09T12:30:00.000-08:00

It's not quite warm springtime weather yet, but Zuri has been spending more time outside in the working yard with Christie. There haven't been many blog updates lately because the weather hasn't allowed Zuri and Christie a regular outdoor schedule for us to report to you, but it seems that things are getting nicer and soon we'll have plenty to show you and talk about!

The elephant keepers called this morning and reported that Zuri weighs in at 614 pounds. She's growing like a good baby elephant, nursing and even eating some hay. As the weather has warmed up in the past few days, the Elephant Encounter staff have been training with Christie as they ready for pachyderm programs which start in a couple of weeks. Zuri has even started a little bit of training too, becoming quite skilled in learning to open her mouth when she is asked. This helps keep Zuri healthy, as keepers can look at her teeth and tongue to make sure everything looks okay.

Of course Zuri gets a treat when she opens her mouth and seems to really enjoy when she gets a squirt of fruit juice!

Mom and Baby!

2010-02-03T10:53:00.001-08:00

Christie and Zuri enjoying another winter day outside. Elephant Encounter is wonderful for any season!

Also be sure to check out our first Hogle Zoo podcast where we interview the artist of the Baby Zuri poster featured in this year's World of the Wild Art Exhibition!

Or check it out on YouTube.

Wintertime Outside

2010-01-26T09:57:00.000-08:00

Here's a fun video of Christie and Zuri outside on one of January's less-blustery days!

Zuri's Winter Wonderland

2010-01-25T09:53:00.000-08:00

Quite a few people have asked us, "Does Zuri like the snow?" You can see from these pictures taken by Hogle Zoo elephant keeper Eric Peterson that Zuri is having a great time this winter! Christie and Zuri have been going outside quite a bit this winter, and the snow we had over the past couple of days was very entertaining for the young elephant.

Eric said, "There was a snow bank that Zuri kept sticking her head into, and then she kept swishing her trunk around in the snow for quite awhile!" Was Zuri making snow angels? Maybe snow elephants!

Take a look:
Zuri's making "snow elephants" with a swish of her trunk.

Zuri started out using her trunk to eat the snow, then opted for a full-on Olympic-style snow bank face plant.

Still growing!

2010-01-14T13:33:00.000-08:00

The keepers at Elephant Encounter have been working to get a height on Baby Zuri and it appears she is getting taller just like any baby does. When Zuri was born, she was 36" tall-- that's three feet to you and I! We are pleased to report that Zuri measured in at 44" tall today. That's getting to be about a foot taller than when she was born just five months ago.

The weather has been chilly, but yesterday's temperatures were falling on the warmer side for a Utah January. Zuri and Christie went out for quite a bit of time during the day, and visitors who happened to be enjoying the sunny chill were able to view them in the working yard at Elephant Encounter.

Zuri is also still playing with Christmas trees left over from the holidays a few weeks ago. She likes to drag the trees around and bury her head in the soft pine needles, then push the trees on the floor before she swings her little trunk back around them. It's quite a sight to see a growing baby elephant play with a Christmas tree!

Milestone!

2010-01-04T15:08:00.000-08:00

We hope that everyone had a fantastic holiday season and 2010 is starting out well!

Another Zuri milestone was reached just before the new year! Elephant Supervisor Doug Tomkinson revealed that Baby Zuri now weighs 502 pounds, which means that she's doubled her weight since she was born in August. Things are going so well with Christie and Zuri and it is going to be an amazing year watching this baby grow up.

We know Zuri is a star, but now she is going to be immortalized as the "face" of this year's World of the Wild Art Exhibition at Hogle Zoo. 17 years ago, this art show began as a way to showcase both local artists and wild life and wild nature art. Since then, this has become one of the premiere venues in Utah for featuring artwork of this type. Each year the art show sells a limited poster, and if you're a Zuri fan you're going to need to pick up right now for only $10!! Guess what? You can! Go to our Web site to order this collector's piece featuring our own Baby Zuri:

What's even cooler is that for only $5 more, you can have this beautiful work of art signed by the featured local artist, Cara Koolmees. And don't forget the 17th Annual World of the Wild art show at Hogle Zoo begins January 30, 2010!

Happy Holidays from Zuri and Hogle Zoo!

2009-12-23T09:18:00.000-08:00

So the weather outside hasn't been totally frightful this week, in fact at the start of the week Christie and Zuri were able to spend some time outside in the sunshine. Elephant Encounter was designed to give the elephants the opportunity to go out even in the colder winter months, and Zuri always enjoys her heated pads in the yard.

Zuri is still starting to experiment with eating solid foods and has really been getting used to her trunk! The keepers say she seems to be getting some dexterity in her trunk and gets more used to what it can do each day. When Zuri went outside at the start of the week, she had her choice of watermelon chunks or grapes but she had a little bit of a tough time getting her trunk around the watermelon. In fact, she just smashed her forehead into the fleshy watermelon bits on the ground and then used her trunk to instead pick up grapes and daintily put them into her mouth. Hey, it's a start! Here's to Zuri's first Christmas at Hogle Zoo, she really seems festive right now!

Click here for Hogle Zoo's holiday e-card featuring our own little elf Zuri.
Happy holidays from Utah's Hogle Zoo!

Bathtime for Baby

2009-12-14T08:28:00.000-08:00

Since the bitter cold weather right now has brought the elephants inside a little more often, Baby Zuri recently had a scrubbing soap bath! These scrubbing baths are very healthy for the elephants, as they provide care of feet and skin.

Zuri didn't seem to like the first scrubby brush the elephant keepers used, she threw her head up and made it clear it wasn't her favorite! Then the keepers changed up bathtime and used a different scrub brush that Zuri didn't seem to mind. The second scrubber was the big orange brush and she stuck around for it-- maybe it reminded her of a giant Feast with the Beast pumpkin?

There's a chill in the air

2009-12-07T11:00:00.000-08:00

The weather is certainly turning out to be frosty and Zuri and Christie are spending quite a bit of time inside the elephant barn at Hogle Zoo. While the cement pads in Elephant Encounter are heated to give the girls a chance to get outside even on winter's cooler days, the blowing wind and very cold temperatures we've had in the last little while make it so they've got to stay inside. On the positive side, this will give the keepers the chance to do some training with Zuri while they train with Christie, so there is still work being done!

Eric, one of Hogle Zoo's elephant keepers, sent over some photos that he took of Zuri on Thanksgiving and we wanted to pass them along to you. In addition to being one of Hogle Zoo's fantastic elephant staff, you can see Eric's a great photographer. Plus, he's got great subject matter as he gets to work with Baby Zuri every day

Thanksgiving Feast with the Beast

2009-12-01T09:56:00.000-08:00

For the past few years the elephants have gotten giant pumpkins to smash for Hogle Zoo's annual Thanksgiving Feast with the Beast event. This year was no exception as there were big pumpkins all around Elephant Encounter! Dari got a giant pumpkin of her very own and Christie and baby Zuri got a couple of big pumpkins over in the working yard.

Here are some photos taken by the Deseret News as part of their Thanksgiving in Utah gallery.
You can see that Christie had quite a good time smashing up her 742 pound pumpkin, then Zuri followed suit by trying to smash one of her own.

Feast with the Beast training

2009-11-23T14:35:00.000-08:00

You can see that Zuri is working out with her ball as she trains for her first Thanksgiving Feast with the Beast this Thursday morning. It's true, Zuri will have her first chance to play with a 700 pound pumpkin. Certainly not to be missed! Feast with the Beast is November 28 from 9 to noon, Zoo hours are from 9 to 4, and we can give you a little hint to get to Elephant Encounter to see Zuri and her pumpkin before 10 am.

Sorry!

2009-11-18T10:07:00.000-08:00

Sorry everyone, the last post on Zuri's weight was incorrect. We accidentally typed 342 pounds instead of 442 pounds. A slip of the finger, and we very much apologize for that. It has been corrected, and Zuri has not lost any weight!

Thanks for letting us know!

Today's weigh-in

2009-11-16T12:41:00.000-08:00

Zuri continues to steadily grow and weighs in today at 442 pounds. In talking with her keepers, she didn't seem to much mind the snow flurries that fell on Saturday afternoon. In fact, there wasn't enough to accumulate within her yard at Elephant Encounter, so she just hung out on her heated paddock and waited for the sunshine to come back out!

Little Pumpkin

2009-11-10T10:58:00.000-08:00

The term "little" is used a bit loosely in the title because Zuri is getting bigger each day! Just this morning, the elephant team revealed that Zuri is at 410 pounds, yet still as active as ever.

Fall is a fun time because there is such an abundance of fresh pumpkin for the elephants. Zuri recently discovered this crazy gourd and has even figured out she can eat. Hogle Zoo elephant keeper Eric Peterson says, "She mostly sticks her head down into the pumpkin, but she has been picking pieces up with her trunk to see what it tastes like." Who says kids can't play with their food?

Each year on Thanksgiving, Hogle Zoo hosts a special event called "Feast with the Beast" where animals get feedings of different foods, and even some get turkey-shaped pinatas filled with tasty treats. This "something special" is called enrichment in the zoo world, and is a great way to keep the animals mentally healthy. A couple of years ago, the elephants started smashing 1,000 pound pumpkins as part of this festive time. The fun continues this year now that Zuri is part of the Hogle Zoo family, and there will be plenty of pumpkins for the elephants to kick and stomp at Elephant Encounter.

Happy Halloween

2009-10-28T12:35:00.001-07:00

It's baby's first Halloween and she seems to really enjoy the changing seasons. During Hogle Zoo's Boo at the Zoo event last Saturday, Zuri was on display and spending quite a bit of time with her bucket. She played soccer with the bucket, then she flipped the bucket upside-down, with intentions of standing on her new little pedestal like she was queen of the bucket. Unfortunately, the bucket crunched flat under Zuri's weight and when she turned to look at it, seemed she wondered why it didn't hold her.

Here are some photos of Zuri with her bucket:

Her kiddie pool:

And her box:

Thoughts from Hogle Zoo elephant manager Doug Tomkinson

2009-10-22T13:51:00.000-07:00

Today’s Zuri photo is chuckle-worthy because it looks like she has started practicing yoga. This “downward elephant” posture really helps purification of the mind!

While Zuri isn’t really practicing this ancient form of exercise, Hogle Zoo Elephant Manager Doug Tomkinson says he believes the elephant team will start training with her in November or December. Training for husbandry procedures, for enrichment and for exercise is critical to the well-being of elephants, and the keepers will help Zuri learn behaviors which will be useful in her care. For instance, having an elephant lift their foot helps the keepers make sure the bottoms of their feet are clear of rocks or anything else that might make standing or walking uncomfortable. When elephants get older, they learn to present their ear to the keepers for procedures like blood draws or checkups. Behaviors like these might seem easy to the average person, but this all takes significant hours, weeks and work on the part of the keepers. Training also helps bond the animals to their keepers and establishes important relationships.

Right now, however, Zuri seems to be learning and exploring very well on her own. Tomkinson talks a little bit about his experience with Zuri this week:

It’s been just over ten weeks since Zuri was born and she is still adventurous and independent. It’s surprising to me that her curiosity hasn’t lessened. I’m amazed by Zuri every single day; even today when I watched her climb on a log and on her balance beam, I am amazed by her strength and agility. I watch her try new things and see how quickly she learns that she can lift her front legs and then her back legs before she energetically takes off running across her yard.

Zuri continues to seek out new things like solid foods like fruit, hay or popcorn but her trunk isn’t developed enough to help her out with the eating, so she often just sticks her head down through the food just to see what happens. She is still nursing, and will for quite a while.

Rule #18: Limber up!

2009-10-20T09:19:00.000-07:00

It's important to limber up, balance and stretch before performing activities like running around your yard, nursing with mom and rolling in the mud. Zuri has mastered the art of limbering, and also appears to be gearing up for Nutcracker Ballet auditions this holiday season.

Update: Zuri weighed in at 374 pounds today!

Still a mama's girl

2009-10-19T09:55:00.000-07:00

This photo was sent in and simply too cute not to pass along:

Happy Monday!

Two months, a hundred pounds

2009-10-15T13:07:00.000-07:00

Zuri has gained 100 pounds since she was born just two months ago. When Zuri came into the world, she weighed in at 251 pounds and yesterday she tipped the scale at 352 pounds. Of course, you have to think that one day Zuri will weigh nearly 8,000 pounds so she's still very small.

While it is getting cooler outside, the Elephant Encounter area is unique in that quite a bit of it is heated. This was by design so that the elephants will have the opportunity to be outside even for a few hours during the winter time. Zuri discovered that the cement pad part of the yard is heated so she's spending some time sprawling out there. You know in the summertime when little kids just finish running through the sprinklers and lay down on the cement to get warm? That's kind of what Zuri looks like after she splashes in a mud puddle and then lays down on her cement pad!

Zuri is also enjoying her ball, here's the proof:

Sticks and stones...

2009-10-08T10:16:00.000-07:00

Today Zuri found a new toy in her exhibit... To a Hogle Zoo visitor this toy might just be referred to as a "stick." But to a baby elephant just two months old this week, this stick was sheer bliss and an entire morning of entertainment.

A couple of Hogle Zoo staffers walked back into their office this morning just laughing. It turns out the pair had spent some time watching Zuri in her yard, playing with her with her stick, and it seemed to make their entire day. They also particularly liked Zuri's almost choreographed footwork on the concrete balance beam in her yard and got a thrill over watching Zuri still getting used to her little legs.

One of the Hogle employees mused, "I was surprised at how long she stays focused on something!" The other said, "She is very tenacious," and little Zuri certainly is.

New Stats!

2009-10-06T11:38:00.000-07:00

Zuri weighed in this week at 330 pounds and now measures 39" at the shoulder. They grow up so quickly!

The keepers at Elephant Encounter also got to spend some of the morning having two of the Nu Skin Jazz dancers help them clean the working yard to film some fun "Jazz Dancer Adventures" to show in this year's Utah Jazz games. The gals did a great job, and were really excited when they got a chance to see little Zuri playing in the yard that they had helped get ready for the day.

Popcorn and Trumpets

2009-10-04T07:29:00.000-07:00

Here's a little Zuri report that was passed along from the keepers at Elephant Encounter:

Zuri let out her first trumpet! It was a small but determined little sound. We'd presented Christie with a large pile of popcorn inside the barn and when we opened the doors to bring the elephants in for the night, Zuri charged through the pile, feet kicking popcorn in all directions! Christie followed close behind, used her trunk to scoop the bulk of the pile away from Zuri and began to eat it. Zuri looked up and mom and, "PTHWEEEET!", let out three hearty trumpets in protest. Once we realized that the familiar sound was coming in miniature form not from Christie, but from ZURI, our hearts collectively melted.

As mom ate the majority of the pile, Zuri walked around using the tip of her trunk (with impressive dexterity for her age!) to grasp individual kernels of popcorn and put them in her mouth. She [Zuri] experiments with any of the food she sees mom eating though she'll still nurse a few gallons of milk from mom every day for the next few years. A few moments later, as she walked away from us, we could see the smashed popcorn shoe soles she had given herself as well.

Thanks to Trina at Elephant Encounter for passing along this account of Zuri's popcorn experience.

More Zuri fans!

2009-10-02T09:31:00.000-07:00

There are quite a few people who are getting a chance to see Zuri, even with the cooler temperatures, and we're getting a chance to read people's experiences they're sharing on their blogs. Thank you! Here are some links to the latest:

Gnome Sweet Gnome- Review: Hogle Zoo
The Hansen Chronicles...- Hogle Zoo
Belliston Clan- Hogle Zoo

And be sure to check out some great photos from Hogle Zoo supporter JR Photography on flickr.

Have fun reading about our visitors' experiences with Zuri! These links are not created by Hogle Zoo, nor is Hogle Zoo responsible for any of the content found therein. For more background information on Zuri, visit our Hogle Zoo Web site here .

Crispy fall weather...

2009-09-28T08:46:00.000-07:00

Right now the days are beautiful but the weather forecast is pointing to cooler weather later this week. The forecast calls for lower temperatures beginning Wednesday, so it's possible Zuri will not be on exhibit. Elephant Encounter does have heated areas for the elephants but with Zuri still so small, the animal care staff will assess the temperatures to make sure that she doesn't catch a chill.

Life with Baby Zuri is certainly day-by-day, and it's a learning process for Hogle Zoo to make sure she is healthy and happy! We will have regular updates here, as well as on our Facebook and Twitter to keep visitors informed on Zuri's exhibit hours as we head into winter.

Zuri's Wednesday adventure!

2009-09-23T13:52:00.000-07:00

Zuri and Christie are still on exhibit, enjoying the mild first days of fall. While Zuri is still nursing, she has tried experimenting with some watermelon frozen in an ice block. Zuri didn't seem to grasp the concept of eating the watermelon but she did enjoy the ice block; quite a bit of time was spent smashing the chunk of ice with her head. Apparently mom's milk is still Zuri's meal of choice.

Zuri weighed in at 314 pounds yesterday and is more energetic than ever.

It's Blog Feature Tuesday

2009-09-22T15:34:00.001-07:00

Photo by @kris247

We had such a busy weekend at Hogle Zoo, and Zuri was on exhibit for her visitors. Quite a few people are blogging about their time with Zuri at Hogle Zoo, so it's only appropriate that we share some of the great things folks are saying about Hogle Zoo and baby Zuri.

Here are a few blogs we found about people who have already come to see Zuri and her mom Christie:
Babies at Utah's Hogle Zoo
Go see Zuri at Hogle Zoo
Vilela: Hogle Zoo
Cooper Family: Hogle Zoo

Have fun reading about our visitors' experiences with Zuri! These links are not created by Hogle Zoo, nor is Hogle Zoo responsible for any of the content found therein. For more background information on Zuri, visit our Hogle Zoo Web site here.

Deseret News video

2009-09-16T08:57:00.001-07:00

If you haven't gotten to check out this video the Deseret News uploaded after Zuri's media preview last week, give it a look. It captures her energy and personality perfectly!

Baby Zuri's name officially announced

2009-09-15T08:26:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who voted on a name for Hogle Zoo's baby elephant. The winning name is Zuri, which received nearly half of the public votes submitted at Hogle Zoo and Sizzler and Red Robin restaurants.

As of Zuri's public debut last Friday, she weighed in at 306 pounds and is active and running around her yard. Zuri is quite energetic, but her mom Christie is handling that well, and both are very happy and healthy.

Here are some more pictures of Zuri taken last week at Hogle Zoo:

You can also see more video of Baby Zuri uploaded by our friends at Fox 13 by clicking here and Fox's photos here.

Just one month old...

2009-09-14T17:36:00.000-07:00

On Friday September 11, Hogle Zoo debuted their new female African elephant to their visitors.

On Tuesday September 15, the baby's name was announced; and that name is Zuri. Swahili for "adorable or beautiful," our new Baby Zuri certainly is.

And full of energy.

Keep coming back to babyzuriblog.com for more stories of Zuri's adventures at Utah's Hogle Zoo!