Raffle Creator

Elephant Extravaganza Fundraiser

$935.00 raised

· Entries close Aug 25, 2020 at 1:00PM ·

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August is Asian Elephant Awareness Month and we are celebrating our elephants with #Tonsoflove here at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, in Syracuse NY. The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is home to 8 Asian elephants, ranging in age from baby Ajay at 1.5 years old, to the zoo’s original elephant Siri at 52 years old. Tune into the Rosamond Gifford Zoo’s Facebook page to see profiles on all of our Asian Elephants!

Asian Elephants are an endangered species; they are on the ICUN Red List of Threatened Species, meaning they are threatened with extinction in the wild. Asian elephant populations have declined by nearly 50% over the last 3 generations, from more than 100,000 animals to less than 40,000 animals by current estimates. 

In honor of our 8 elephants, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo’s AAZK chapter, host a yearly raffle, of a painting done by our Elephants, to benefit to wild Asian Elephant Conservation and for enrichment items (treats and toys) for our 8 elephants. This year we have decided that the raffle will benefit the Association of Zoos and Aquariums SAFE program for Asian Elephants. SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction, focuses the collective expertise within AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums and leverages their massive audiences to save species.(1) The Asian Elephant SAFE program works within 13 of the countries native to Asian Elephants, to enhance and support conservation efforts, as well as with AZA elephant populations, in human care, to research strategies in health and management that will benefit wild populations. 

Please support the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in our goal of fundraising to conserve Asian Elephant Populations and enter for a chance to win a priceless painting by our elephants. Our Elephant herd thanks you!!

Please note: Paintings are going to be done by the elephants on August 22nd, during our Asian Elephant Extravaganza. You can buy tickets now or after they are completed and the pictures of the paintings have been added to this page! You will have until August 25th at noon to purchase tickets!

To learn more about Asian Elephants:

Check out the hashtag #Tonsoflove

Visit the Rosamond Gifford Zoo Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/syracusezoo

Visit AZA SAFE Asian Elephants https://www.aza.org/safe-species#asianelephant

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The Prizes

  • Siri Painting

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    This piece of art was masterfully created by Siri!   

    Facts about Siri
    Born: Thailand
    • Came to the Zoo in 1972 
    • Weighs 8,780 and stands 8’6” at her shoulder 
    • Siri really enjoys the company of her keepers and interacting with members of the public. 
    • Personality: Very intelligent and social with her keepers. Siri prefers people to other elephants.
    • Favorite activities: Siri really enjoys socializing with staff and public. This has become a very positive experience for her so she generally follows keeping staff wherever she can throughout the elephant barn and enclosures to seek attention.
    • Favorite toy: Giant cruise ship buoy that she recently popped! 
    • Favorite food: Siri lives sweet things but also really enjoys browse and greens.
    • Siri is currently beyond the average age of an Asian Elephant in human care (48) at 53 years old. She is the oldest elephant here at the zoo. 
    • Siri gets regular “yoga” training session to keep her mobility and range of motion up as she ages. 

     

  • Romani Painting

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    This beautiful piece of art was created by  Romani!

    Facts about Romani.
    Born: Estimated 1975, Sri Lanka.LankaLanka. 
    • Romani spent time at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka before coming to the US. Elephants from Sri Lanka are considered to be their own subspecies of the Asian Elephant.
    • Weighs 6,100lbs and stand 7’11” at the shoulder
    • Romani has birthed 4 calves in her time here at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, one being the first successful birth for our breeding program in 1991.
    • Personality: Laid back, easy going, good with all of the other elephants, very responsive to staff and often seeks out attention from the staff by making a “chirping” sound or lifting a leg in greeting
    • Favorite activities: Hanging out with the young calves. She is a really good “aunt” and enjoys spending time with the babies
    • Favorite toy:   Anything that makes noise. Romani is our “musical” elephant and can often be found making her own rhythmic beats using anything she can find (i.e log, toy or rock). She is also our only elephant that can play a harmonica. She will hold it at the end of her trunk and blow out in varying strength to make different notes/pitches on the harmonica. She really enjoys when the staff plays music for her, she will come over and listen with her ears out. Her favorite to listen to is Adele.
    • Favorite food: Prefers any sweet treats like jelly beans or watermelon. Romani also gets very excited for a rare treat of cotton candy.
    • Romani is the only elephant in the country to fully recover from a procedure known as a vestibulotomy (which is done to remove a calf that is stuck in the birth canal during birth). Big yellow buttons were used at the incision site to hold the skin together and allow the incision.