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An Elephant Exhibit You'll Never Forget

San Diego Zoo's elephant exhibit cost $45 million

By Eric S. Page and R. Stickney

| Friday, May 22, 2009 | Updated 11:21 AM PDT

Mark Sackett

The opening ceremony featured six Asian and one African elephant in a 2.5-acre exhibit that includes a 137,000-gallon pool, gentle rolling hills, hidden drinking spots and feeders to entice foraging, and the half-acre Conrad Prebys Elephant Care Center.

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Elephants On Their Odyssey

Four elephants checked out their new 7.5 acre, $45 million habitat at the San Diego Zoo.

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Elephants On
Their Odyssey

Journey 12-Thousand Years Back in Time

The World-Famous San Diego Zoo will turn back the clock with a huge prehistoric "Elephant Odyssey" exhibit, you have to see to believe.

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Journey
12-Thousand Years Back in Time

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The new $45 million Elephant Odyssey exhibit made its official debut Friday.

The entire 7.5 acre habitat exhibit known as Elephant Odyssey includes rolling hills, mechanical trees for activities, shade, showers or heat.

Ranchipur, who weights 12,500 pounds, was the largest of the elephants moved to the zoo. The Asian elephants joined three other elephants already making their home at the zoo.

The first of the elephants arrived April 25, escorted by five police motorcycles -- lights flashing -- an escort fit for dignitaries.

"There have been several months of preparation and training of the elephants," said Rick Schwartz, the Elephant Odyssey Ambassador. "They walked right into their crates, enjoyed a nice little snack while getting into the trucks.

Also on view at the new exhibit: eight life-size replicas of extinct creatures that made the cross-country trip from Wisconsin in early April to be part of the zoo's new feature.