OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — The Oklahoma City Zoo is expanding its animal family.

Bowie, a 9-year-old Asian elephant, has arrived from the Fort Worth Zoo. Bowie’s arrival comes just weeks after the zoo announced the loss of Bamboo, a 56-year-old Asian elephant.

“Although the elephant caretaker team is still mourning the recent loss of Bamboo, we are very excited about Bowie’s arrival,” said Rachel Emory, the OKC Zoo’s curator of elephants and rhinos. “We have been working closely with the Species Survival Plan® (SSP) for Asian elephants for the last year on Bowie’s relocation and are excited to welcome him. We have watched our young female elephants grow up here at the OKC Zoo and are thrilled at the prospect of them having calves of their own and grow our herd.”

Bowie was born at the Fort Worth Zoo in 2013. Staff members chose the name Bowie in honor of legendary Texan Jim Bowie.

Male elephants are used to roaming alone. Staff members expect Bowie to take his time before warming up to other members of the herd.

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