Taipei Fine Arts Museum

To facilitate the upcoming renovation of the Tropical Rainforest Area, Taipei Zoo’s Asian elephants, “You Kai” and “You Shin,” were relocated to the African Animal Area on April 10, 2026. In addition to adapting to a new environment, the Asian elephants must also adjust to the presence of the African elephant, “Chien Hui.” After gradually becoming familiar with their indoor quarters, zookeepers introduced “You Kai” and “You Shin” to the newly designed outdoor sand paddock on April 22, marking their first opportunity to explore the space and encounter their neighbor, “Chien Hui.” The initial outdoor interaction was highly dynamic and exploratory. The elephants engaged in intense mutual investigation, raising their trunks high to sniff, assess, and vocalize, demonstrating complex and rarely observed social behaviors. The more cautious “You Shin,” encouraged by “You Kai,” gradually ventured outdoors. When faced with this unfamiliar interspecies interaction, both Asian elephants displayed a mixture of excitement and tension. They were observed reassuring one another while also engaging in self-directed enrichment behaviors such as dust-bathing and water-spraying. Additionally, they pushed against sand mounds and interacted with structural enrichment features such as the “plum blossom poles,” helping to mitigate environmental stress associated with the new setting.

To improve the outdoor habitat for African elephants, Taipei Zoo began phasing out concrete substrates in late 2025 and replacing them with deep sand. Adjustments were also made to pool depth, and earthen mounds were constructed to create varied terrain, reducing strain on the elephants’ feet while encouraging natural behaviors such as digging, dust-bathing, and water-based activity supported by buoyancy. As the largest terrestrial mammals, elephants’ overall health is closely linked to the condition of their feet. Based on international husbandry experience, prolonged standing on hard surfaces can lead to foot diseases. Therefore, providing a variety of soft substrates—such as sand, woodchips, or straw—is essential. These materials not only reduce physical impact but also serve as a medium for natural behaviors including digging, resting, and exploratory activity. Aquatic areas also function as a form of physical therapy. Pools and water features allow elephants to thermoregulate and bathe during hot weather. Sufficiently deep pools provide buoyancy, enabling non-weight-bearing exercise and allowing elephants to lie laterally or fully submerge. Such conditions are critical for limb extension and body temperature regulation.

When “You Kai” and “You Shin” first explored the African Area habitat, they paused briefly before stepping outdoors and quickly became aware of “Chien Hui” nearby. “You Kai” repeatedly raised the trunk toward “Chien Hui,” engaging in olfactory investigation while producing low-frequency rumbles. The more tentative “You Shin” initially hesitated near the indoor entrance before responding to “You Kai’s” signals and joining in evaluating the unfamiliar individual. Throughout the interaction, the elephants frequently struck the ground with their trunks to express arousal states and produced high-pitched vocalizations for communication. They also maintained close physical proximity, using trunk contact to provide reassurance. Despite the cautious assessment, the elephants engaged in playful behaviors, including tossing sand onto their backs and spraying water over their bodies. “You Kai” was also observed throwing sand toward “Chien Hui,” likely as a form of exploratory boundary-testing.

The African elephant “Chien Hui” was initially highly vigilant toward the presence of the newcomers. Although already aware of “You Kai” and “You Shin,” the first outdoor encounter was characterized by heightened caution. She frequently extended her trunk to investigate their scent and paced back and forth while closely observing the Asian elephants. During this process, she emitted deep, resonant rumbles, which appeared to serve as both a greeting and a warning signal, indicating awareness while maintaining spatial boundaries with the new neighbors.

The renovation of these legacy facilities aims to align with modern animal welfare standards. By arranging an adjacent housing environment for Asian and African elephants, zookeepers provide enriched conditions for the Asian elephants while also introducing social stimulation for both species. Visitors are welcome to the African Animal Area to observe the newly designed outdoor sand substrate yard and witness the rare and dynamic interactions between these neighboring Asian and African elephants.