Zoo moves camels into elephant yard

Area had been empty since 3 animals died
By William Mullen
Tribune staff reporter
Published June 29, 2006

An Asian species recently migrated into Lincoln Park Zoo's African area when keepers put three two-humped Bactrian camels into the elephant yard, vacant since the shocking deaths of the zoo's three elephants more than a year ago.
The zoo has not ruled out bringing back elephants, but it has no immediate plans to do so. Zoo officials chose to place the Bactrian camels, which are native to Mongolia, in a yard intended for African critters last week for three reasons, said zoo spokeswoman Kelly McGrath

"First, we couldn't leave the yard empty for years. It is one of our major exhibit areas," she said. "Second, it was relatively easy to rearrange the yard for camels. We also thought because the yard is in such a prominent place, it would be nice to have the camels where they would get a little more public attention."

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