The Fort Worth Zoo grew recently with the birth of an Asian elephant — who by popular demand is now known as “Lady Bird.”
Zoo officials put three names before the public for a vote. With about 18,000 people participating in the competition, the name Lady Bird, or “Birdie” for short, came out on top. Yellow Rose and Black-eyed Susan were also options as all elephants at the Fort Worth Zoo bear Texas-themed names.
Her name pays homage to Lady Bird Johnson, the former first lady of the United States and a Texas native who was known for her love of nature and flowers.
The young Lady Bird, born Aug. 18, is one of the six Asian elephant calves born at the zoo, according to a news release. Her mother, 26-year-old Bluebonnet, made history in 1998 for being the first.
Lady Bird is part of a four-generation family in Fort Worth’s herd, including her father, Romeo, and her nearly 4-year-old brother, Brazos. Rasha, the matriarch of the city’s elephant family, is one of only a few great-grandmothers among Asian elephants residing in North America, according to the zoo.
The 320-pound baby is successfully acclimating to her family and habitat, zoo officials said. She’s using her trunk, mimicking female relatives, exploring on her own, bonding with her mother, and displaying signs of “confidence and curiosity,” they said.
The new addition is part of the zoo’s mission in conserving animals. In 1998, the institution led the development of the International Elephant Foundation, a global organization aimed at educating the public about peacefully coexisting with the endangered animals.
Through the foundation, the zoo has partnered with others, including the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Uganda Conservation Foundation, to address elephant poaching.
Earlier this year, the Fort Worth Zoo celebrated 41 years of conserving the Puerto Rican crested toad and the successful breeding of lesser flamingos and gharial crocodile hatchlings. Zoo officials also played their part in honoring Endangered Species Day on May 16 by releasing thousands of Houston toad eggs, tadpoles and adult toads in Central Texas.
Local zoo partners include Texas Christian University, which is among those working to reintroduce the Texas horned lizard to its native habitat.
Now that Birdie is making herself at home, Fort Worthians can visit the baby elephant and her family at the zoo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.
Nicole Lopez is the environment reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at nicole.lopez@fortworthreport.org.
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