Harry and Linda Fath Elephant Trek

Dedicated to the Children and to the Hope for a Future where People and Elephants Thrive.

The Harry and Linda Fath Elephant Trek includes swimming pools, streams, overhead feeding stations, mud wallows and enrichment opportunities at every turn. It provides a world-class environment for the Asian elephant herd that lives there now and plenty of room for their offspring in the future! Elephant Trek is part of our investment in a long-term breeding program and will help secure the future for 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.

Meet the Herd

Meet Mai Thai, Schottzie, Sabu, Jati, SheRa, Kabir, Anak & Sanjay!

Asian elephants typically live in small, multi-generational herds of related females, their female offspring, and related immature males. With our state-of-the-art habitat, we can manage up to three groups at a time with this yard. As elephants are born, grow, and age, and as family dynamics evolve, the Zoo can support ‘elephants being elephants’ and allow these groupings to change.

Learn how to tell the elephants apart!

Pool Party

The pools at Elephant Trek are filled with water that’s collected in tanks that were buried under the habitat and have the capacity to hold a million gallons! That project was partially funded by the Zoo’s official water sustainability sponsor Roto Rooter.

The Zoo collects rainwater, cleans it, and uses it for streams, waterfalls, pools, and other water elements in Elephant Trek and other parts of the Zoo.

Outdoor Habitat

In addition to multiple water features throughout the five-acre habitat, there are elements specifically designed to provide enrichment for the elephants.  These are items that encourage movement and other natural behaviors. The herd of eight can access three different yards that serve different purposes and can accommodate separation for training and medical procedures.  The indoor area was also designed with this kind of flexibility in mind, so you may see all elephants together in the large community room or in different combinations around the periphery.

Gardens

The Zoo’s horticulture team designed and planted one of the most unique gardens in the Midwest! Visitors are transported to Asia as they enter Elephant Trek through The Komminsk Family Asian Waterfall Garden and continue on through a forested habitat that follows streams to open grasslands. There’s a heavy presence of tropical plants including large elephant ears, tropical bananas, and Chinese Fan Palms which are native to Southeast Asia. Trees that look tropical but are native to the Cincinnati area are a critical part of the design plan.

Plants, such as lemongrass and chilis, that are used to deter elephants from destroying crops in Southeast Asia are also present in the landscape along with interpretive guides that tell the story of how alternative crops are helping to reduce human-elephant conflict.

Animal Care

The Cincinnati Zoo is taking proactive measures to keep its Asian elephant herd healthy. Vets and elephant keepers are working hard to protect the elephants from contracting Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus – EEHV, or at least mitigating the severity if they do. EEHV is a major threat to elephants in the North American population as well as elephants in their home range. A comprehensive monitoring and treatment protocol has been developed by zoo veterinarians. Combined with effective training and sample collection by animal husbandry and veterinary staff, this monitoring should allow for early detection and treatment of elephants, and hopefully result in better survival if EEHV-HD occurs at the Cincinnati Zoo.

Mural and Artwork

Elephant Trek is full of amazing artwork by local artists. Look around every corner to see the beauty!

Artist Olivia Faillace created a sculpture for the Elephant Trek entry, with support from well-known sculptor Tom Tsuchiya. Local artist Cedric M. Cox made his mark on the 175-foot-long concrete wall on the side of the Farmer Family Foundation Elephant Center that faces Forest Avenue and included Zoo staff and community members in the mural-painting project.  The architectural design is also a work of art!

Sustainability

The Cincinnati Zoo prioritized sustainability in construction of Elephant Trek. All buildings in the new, five-acre Elephant Trek habitat will be LEED certified, stormwater tanks buried under the habitat provide all the water for the streams and pools, and most of the power will come from solar panels over the Zoo’s parking lots and a new 165 kW array that’s on top of the elephant barn.

The million-gallon-capacity stormwater tanks aren’t just providing water for animal habitats. They’re keeping water and sewer overflow out of the Zoo’s neighbors’ basements and the Ohio River. AND the Zoo is saving money on utility bills! Protecting natural resources is part of Cincinnati Zoo’s commitment to save wildlife, locally and globally.

Conservation

Partnering with Conservation Initiatives (CI) in India and Bring the Elephant Home (BTEH) in Thailand, the Zoo is making strides to protect and sustain these majestic giants in their natural habitats. Endangered Asian elephants are facing an array of threats across their range. Habitat fragmentation is one of the most pressing issues, as expanding human settlements encroach on traditional migration routes. This leads to isolated elephant groups and a surge in human-elephant conflicts. Cincinnati Zoo’s conservation efforts are grounded in the belief that elephants are not nuisances but valuable assets to local communities.

Cincinnati Zoo also plays a leading role in AZA’s SAFE Elephant program and contributes funds raised from behind-the-scenes elephant tours to the International Elephant Foundation(IEF)

Private Events

Book your next private event in the Overlook at Elephant Trek! This spectacular space promises an extraordinary experience for every attendee. The Overlook offers an unparalleled setting that immerses guests in the wonder of these magnificent creatures. Imagine hosting your event with the awe-inspiring sights and sounds of elephants as your backdrop, creating memories and photo opportunities. The venue’s close proximity to these gentle giants adds an extraordinary and exclusive touch, ensuring your gathering is truly exceptional and unforgettable. Whether it’s a celebration, corporate event, or any special occasion, The Overlook at the Cincinnati Zoo transforms every moment into a memorable adventure.

Phase 2 Coming Spring 2025

And there’s more!  Next year, habitats for siamangs, Asian small clawed otters, babirusa, and rhinoceros hornbills will open!