Happy Elephants at the Oregon Zoo Play With Giant 30 Foot Logs Donated by the Wild Forestry Center

When the World Forestry Center in Portland, Oregon decided to give the famous “Peggy the Train” Locomotive Display a makeover, they knew exactly where her giant old logs should go. Working with officials at the Oregon Zoo, the Center made arrangements to deliver the 30 foot logs into the Elephant Lands habitat, where pachyderms of all sizes can play with them to their heart’s content.

According to zoo experts, the logs — each around 30 feet long and 3 feet in diameter — will promote exercise and encourage natural behaviors among Portland’s beloved Asian elephant family, an extension of the zoo’s renowned environmental enrichment efforts. “They’ll give the elephants new surfaces to scratch on, push against and climb over,” said Shawn Finnell, the zoo’s senior elephant keeper. “Lily especially is an active climber, and I expect her to be all over them.”

Lori Dorn
Lori Dorn

Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry, playing guitar, taking photos and mixing craft cocktails.