MILWAUKEE — An African elephant named Belle arrived at the Milwaukee County Zoo Wednesday morning from a zoo in South Carolina, according a Milwaukee County Zoo press release.
The zoo's newest resident is 38-years-old, stands 7 ft. and 11 in. tall and weighs 7,920 pounds. Her nickname is "Diva" since she prefers to move at her own pace. She loves baths and will even fall asleep mid-bath.
Belle will spend the next several weeks in the zoo's indoor elephant care center to get comfortable in her new home. The building will be closed to visitors until she's well-acclimated.
Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, S.C. had been working with the Milwaukee County Zoo for the past few months to ensure a safe move for Belle. Riverbanks' animal care team accompanied the elephant to ensure her health and well-being during the trip. She arrived at 3:30 a.m.
After 30 days, the zoo will introduce Belle to the other elephants, named Ruth and Brittany.
“The Milwaukee County Zoo was the right move for Belle’s needs, to thrive and live out her life in our new spacious outdoor habitat and indoor Elephant Care Center,” said Zoo Director Chuck Wikenhauser in a press release.
Once they all become comfortable with one another, the three elephants will all live together in the Elephant Care Center, which has a 20,000-square foot care center with sand and padded floors and recreation room, a 1.6-acre outdoor habitat with a water hole, feeding stations, shade structures and self-activating showers.
