Imperial Valley News

"They are both eating well," said Tracy Clippinger, D.V.M., senior veterinarian for the San Diego Zoo. "They appear to like a wide variety of foods including fruit, vegetables, acacia, willow, hay and pellets."

The veterinarian gave the two large pachyderms their first formal medical evaluation since their arrival. Jewel and Tina were examined visually by the Zoo's veterinary staff as the initial step in a thorough medical evaluation taking place over the next couple of months. Today's examination included an assessment of their overall body condition, a look into their mouths and a general examination of their feet. The elephants worked well with the Zoo's animal care staff, complying with requests to show their feet and move for observational purposes. Today's observations verified that the elephants have some dental and foot pad abnormalities that will need to be addressed.

The two elephants are being housed at the Zoo after being removed by officials from the U.S. Department of Agricultures Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) from the care of a private owner in Texas. Jewel and Tina are currently in quarantine in the Special Needs Facility of the Elephant Care Center and are not readily available for public viewing.

The 100-acre San Diego Zoo is dedicated to the conservation of endangered species and their habitats. The organization focuses on conservation and research work around the globe, educates millions of individuals a year about wildlife and maintains accredited horticultural, animal, library and photo collections. The Zoo also manages the 1,800-acre San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park, which includes a 900-acre native species reserve, and the San Diego Zoo's Institute for Conservation Research. The important conservation and science work of these entities is supported in part by The Foundation of the Zoological Society of San Diego.