By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-829225.mp3
Dallas, TX – The Dallas Zoo has a new elephant a friend for "Jenny" and is fast-tracking creation of a new African Savanna habitat. KERA's BJ Austin says the city council has approved money to start construction.
Zoo Director Gregg Hudson says the 28 year old African Elephant Gypsy arrived last night from South Texas and a private owner. Gypsy has been in show business, including movies. Two more elephants are also on the way.
Hudson: Stumpy and Mama are coming from a small zoo in central Florida that took one look at our new facility and said we're out of the elephant business. We'd love for our elephants to come to your facility.
The City Council has approved phase two of funding - 13 million - for construction of the 10 acre African Savanna habitat. Margaret Morin, founder of Concerned Citizens for Jenny, says this is NOT a good idea.
Morin: They're talking about allocating 3.75 acres to the elephant exhibit and putting six elephants in there. That is incredibly crowded.
Morin says elephants need to walk MILES a day, not FEET. She says she's talking to city council candidates about Jenny and how the elephant really needs to go to a 300 acre Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.