"The first
elephant in the Oklahoma City Zoo arrived in the 1920’s. Luna was very popular with children across
the state. When she died, everyone was so saddened that the dream to find
another elephant was born.
In working
together, Oklahoma’s children were able to get a new elephant for the zoo. One
day in May 1949, vast crowds and a huge parade escorted a young Indian elephant
to her new home. The estimated cost to
bring a new elephant to the zoo had had been over $3,000 and the children had
gone well past that goal.
“Judy”
amazed and delighted visitors for decades and finally died of cancer in October
1997. Later that year, because of the
important place Judy had held in the community, the zoo added two Asian
elephants. They were part of the
Oklahoma City Zoo’s ongoing species survival program.
Due to
loss of their natural habitats and poaching, Asian elephants are endangered
animals. Efforts, such as the program at
the Oklahoma City Zoo, helped insure that these wonderful animals remained
around for future generations to love.
Judy –
symbol of what a dream, teamwork and determination can accomplish – will live
long in Oklahoma history and in the imaginations of children everywhere. "
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