Elephant Program Expanding at National Zoo

The zoo is actively seeking a new home for Happy because the coming renovation of the zoo's elephant house, where Happy has lived his whole life, will claim his quarters.

"The hippo space we currently have is going to become elephant space," said National Zoo Senior Curator Brandie Smith. Though there is a "teeny, tiny" chance he could stay, Smith said, current plans do not include Happy. "We need to find a new space for Happy," she said. "We want to make sure he goes to a place that's well qualified to care for him.

"The National Zoo is very strongly committed to [Asian] elephant programs," Smith said, in part because the animals are endangered in the wild. "With zoos you only have so much space available. . . . We don't have a strong hippopotamus program right now."

Happy has a little over a year before he has to move, a zoo spokeswoman said. The zoo has borrowed the giant crate in which he would be shipped, and keepers will soon start training him to enter it. A crane will probably be required to lift him, the zoo said.

But it's not easy finding a home for a 7,000-pound adult male Nile hippo. Happy, who was born at the zoo 27 years ago, needs lots of clean water, for an array of reasons that include his indoor and outdoor pools, where he spends much of his time submerged.

He also needs his own room, so to speak. Male hippos are extremely territorial, and will attack other hippos, or people, that intrude in their space. "Happy doesn't want friends," Smith said, and "hippo space is expensive."