Honolulu Zoo
progressing well with
elephant spaceMari and Vaigai's mating facilities
By Gordon Y.K. Pang
should be ready by the end of 2001
Star-BulletinHonolulu Zoo elephants Mari and Vaigai should have the facilities to entertain male visitors come October 2001.
Alvin Au, enterprise services director, told the City Council Budget Committee yesterday that U.S. Department of Agriculture officials appear satisfied with the progress being made on expanding the zoo's elephant facilities.
Council members several weeks ago questioned the lack of progress, noting the USDA permit allowing Vaigai's entry required that a breeding environmentbe set up.
"The federal officials did inform us that they were very happy we are moving along with this project," Au said.
Construction of the $3 million first phase would begin in March 2000 and include site work, off-site utilities, and relocation of other animals.
The phase would be completed around October of that year to coincide with the beginning of construction of the second phase, said Randy Fujiki, director of the city Design and Construction Department.
The second phase is set to be completed in October 2001.
Au said the city will create a task force to seek funds to help pay for the second phase.
The Honolulu Zoological Society will be part of the task force, but likely won't be able to cover the entire cost of the second phase as originally envisioned, he said.
Au said he's already talking to the Ringling Brothers Circus organization -- which "has a whole herd of elephants in Florida" -- about the possibility of bringing in potential mates for Mari and Vaigai.
