The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is preparing for a major change to its African elephant program, announcing plans to transition to an all-male herd while transferring its longtime female elephant, Felix, to another facility.

Zoo officials said the move is being made in coordination with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ African Elephant Species Survival Plan, a program designed to support the management of African elephant populations in zoos across North America.

Under the new plan, the Maryland Zoo will focus on housing male elephants, also known as bulls, and may add additional males in the future. Officials said the shift will help create space at other zoos for breeding-age females while allowing the Baltimore facility to build on its experience supporting elephant reproduction programs.

The Zoo has had growing success collecting reproductive samples from bull elephants for use in artificial insemination at other facilities with active breeding plans. Zoo leaders said that work can contribute to broader conservation and population management efforts even if breeding does not take place in Baltimore.

As part of the transition, Felix, the Zoo’s 43-year-old female African elephant, is expected to move to another facility. Felix has lived at the Maryland Zoo for 19 years and is a familiar presence to generations of visitors and staff.

The decision follows the death of the Zoo’s other female elephant in 2024, which reduced Felix’s opportunities for the kind of social interaction female elephants typically experience. While Felix continues to interact with the Zoo’s two male elephants, zoo officials said relocating her to a female herd will better support her long-term social wellbeing.

“Female elephants form supportive groups much more than males, who have loose coalitions but frequently spend time on their own,” said Erin Cantwell Grimm, mammal curator at the Maryland Zoo. “We will all miss her but having social companionship in a female herd is the best thing for Felix’s overall wellbeing.”

Maryland Zoo President and CEO Kirby Fowler described the transition as beneficial for the Zoo, Felix and elephant conservation programs at other institutions.

“This move is a win-win-win for all involved,” Fowler said. “Zoo guests will be able to enjoy an active male herd in Baltimore as we support breeding programs in other accredited facilities. And, Felix will once again be in the company of female elephants.”

Felix weighs approximately 7,450 pounds and is the mother of Samson, the Zoo’s younger bull elephant. Samson was born in Baltimore in March 2008. In the wild, male elephants typically separate from their birth mothers and family groups as they mature, making his continued development in a male-focused herd consistent with natural social patterns.

Zoo officials said Felix is in good health for her age and receives a comprehensive care plan that includes a carefully managed diet, physical conditioning, environmental enrichment and veterinary care. Her new home, which was not identified in the announcement, has extensive experience caring for older elephants.

Preparing Felix for the move has involved weeks of work by her keepers. She has been getting accustomed to a large carrier specially designed for elephant transport. Zoo staff members are also expected to accompany her throughout the journey and remain with her for several days while she adjusts to her new surroundings.

Animal transport requires extensive planning, and the Zoo said Felix’s safety and comfort will remain the top priority throughout the process.

For longtime visitors, Felix’s departure will also be an emotional milestone. During nearly two decades in Baltimore, she has become one of the Zoo’s most recognizable animals, giving guests opportunities to observe elephant behavior while helping staff educate the public about the species’ complex social needs and conservation challenges. 

The Maryland Zoo has not announced a timetable for bringing additional male elephants to Baltimore. For now, the transition marks a new chapter for its African elephant program and the end of a nearly two-decade era for Felix at the Zoo.

Founded in 1876, the Maryland Zoo is located in Druid Hill Park and is home to more than 1,500 animals. Its major habitats include Penguin Coast, Maryland Wilderness, African Journey and Main Valley: The Living Forest. The Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is known for its work in animal care, conservation and education.