Metro and the Oregon Zoo made repeated statements promoting an offsite multi acre preserve, a retirement home for the elephants in the run up to the $125 million dollar zoo bond measure in 2008. You can read about that on our Myths and Facts page. After a committee reviewed the feasibility of the facility, the Zoo and the Zoo Foundation made a presentation to Metro Council on January 21, 2016 arguing that the offsite facility is not feasible. The reasons itemized included financial risks, transport problems, and proceeding with the project would take away from the conservation projects for the elephants at the zoo. Metro President Tom Hughes, after a member of FOZE objected to this decision, stated that the public did not know about the preserve and did not vote for it. The final vote on the project is February 18 at Metro Council. If you voted for this bond expecting it to include an offsite preserve, please come to Metro and share that with the council.
Watch testimony by FOZE president Courtney Scott and comments by Tom Hughes and Councilor Sam Chase.
Media reports on the Metro decision to cancel the preserve.