Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s much-anticipated Harry and Linda Fath Elephant Trek opened to the public on October 1.
“Linda and I couldn’t be more thrilled to see the elephant herd thriving in their new space,” said Harry Fath, whose generous lead donation made Elephant Trek possible. “It’s important to us that future generations get the chance to see and be inspired by these amazing creatures. The work that Cincinnati Zoo does to care for elephants here and in Asia is something that we are proud to support. In short, our motivation for this gift was to give a gift to the citizens of Greater Cincinnati.”
The herd that will call Elephant Trek home includes bull elephant Sabu, females Anuk, SheRa, Jati, Mai Thai, and Schottzie, and two young males, Kabir and Sanjay.
Visitors will be transported into a different world as soon as they enter Elephant Trek through the Komminsk Asian Waterfall Garden. The Asian-themed landscaping throughout the habitat was designed to mimic the natural environment found in the forests of Southeast Asia and includes plants that grow there and others that are native to the Cincinnati area, such as Catalpa, but resemble those found across the world. A large variety of elephant ears plants are on display.
A view of the sunset over Elephant Trek. Credit: Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden 
Cincinnati Zoo Director Thane Maynard also spoke at the donor event. Credit: Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden 
The view of Elephant Trek from the Garden. Credit: Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden 
View of Elephant Trek. Credit: Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden 
Plants on Elephant Trek. Credit: Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden 
Asian elephants cool off on a hot summer day at their new Elephant Trek home just opened to the public at Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. Credit: Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden 
Elephants. Credit: Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden 
Donor Harry Fath said a few words at the donor preview event. 
Cincinnati Zoo Horticulturists Dave Padur, Steve Foltz and Jerome Stenger. Credit: Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden 
Caladium. Credit: Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden 
Asian Elephants. Credit: Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden 
The pavilion at Cincinnati Zoo’s Elephant Trek facilities provides for watching the elephants during events that can be held there.
“The idea was to create a forested habitat that followed the streams to the open grasslands where the elephants would be grazing by the watering hole,” said Cincinnati Zoo’s director of horticulture Steve Foltz.
Food options include the new Trunk Stop, Mai Thai’s Market, and The Grove Food Court
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Speciee, Asian elephants are listed as Endangered in their native range across southern and southeastern Asia. Elephant populations are in decline due to various factors including habitat loss/degradation and poaching. The International Elephant Foundation (IEF) estimates there are 40,000-50,000 Asian elephants remaining
Cincinnati Zoo is committed to protecting Asian elephants in the wild and is a leader in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Saving Animals From Extinction (AZA SAFE) Asian Elephant Program, an AZA initiative to leverage collective expertise to protect species’ future. Phase 2 of Elephant Trek will open in the spring of 2025 and will include habitats for siamangs, babirusa, rhinoceros hornbills, and small-clawed otters.
You pay more than $10 less per ticket, on select days, when you purchase tickets online! That’s a $40 savings for a family