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Within weeks after the Oregon Zoo‘s new Elephant Lands exhibit opened, project leaders were delighted to see some very notable differences in how much the elephants were moving around the six-acre site.

鈥淲e have randomly timed feeders to encourage foraging like in the wild, and they are constantly exploring the new features and foraging for food,鈥� said Heidi Rahn, the zoo’s bond program director. 鈥淭his is great because that was one of the main goals for the habitat.鈥�

A national model for other zoos, Elephant Lands features an 80-foot-wide, 160,000-gallon pool that is up to 12 feet deep; a 14,000-square-foot barn; and several outdoor habitat areas with paths, warming sheds and feeding stations. Elephant Lands includes an interpretive center and indoor viewing area in Forest Hall, which is 33,000 square feet and has auditorium seating overlooking a large indoor enclosure. The enclosure has 40-foot walls and 4 feet of sand on the floor with dune play areas.

Rahn said zoo staffers quickly saw changes in the elephants’ foot pads because of the sand, and the pads are adapting to better grip it. In addition, the keepers have seen changes in the elephants’ social structure and dynamics.

Construction Manager Jim Mitchell oversaw the $57 million project and said researchers filmed the elephants three days a week to record their reactions as the construction took place around them. The researchers are continuing to monitor the elephants in the new habitat, measuring their activity and social dynamics; a report comparing their behavior before, during and after construction will be released later this year.

Elephant Lands is one of eight projects paid for with money from by a $125 million bond measure that voters passed in 2008. Other projects already completed include a new Veterinary Medical Center; an upgrade to the water filtration system in the penguin habitat; and the Condors of Columbia exhibit. A new Education Center is being built. A full renovation of the polar bear habitat, an upgrade to the primate habitat and an expansion of the rhino habitats are in the works.

鈥淭he transformation of the zoo with these bond projects is phenomenal and it feels pretty fantastic,鈥� Mitchell said. 鈥淭he elephant project in particular really exceeded my expectations. It’s a legacy project.鈥�

鈥淲e’re so appreciative of the community’s support for the zoo,鈥� Rahn added. 鈥淚f people haven’t checked it out already, they should come see us because just these four (completed) projects have really changed things here.鈥�