Columbus Zoo welcomes ‘Johnson,’ an Asian elephant from Canada

View a previous report on the Columbus Zoo’s upcoming lantern festival in the video player above.

POWELL, Ohio (WCMH) — The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium announced its newest elephant has arrived from its original home in Canada.

Johnson the Asian elephant arrived from African Lion Safari in Cambridge, Ontario, on Friday, the Columbus Zoo announced on Canada Day. He will settle in with the help of the Canadian safari’s elephant manager, who is staying with him for a few days as he adjusts to his new home.

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Born in 2001 and weighing in at 11,500 pounds, Johnson was described by his former care team as laid back, confident and gentle with other elephants. Because of his nature, the zoo said it looked forward to Johnson meeting and bonding with the herd’s female elephants, sisters Rudy and Sundara, and mother Phoebe. The zoo said Johnson could serve as a role model for Phoebe’s three-year-old son, Frankie.

The Columbus Zoo brought Johnson in because of a recommendation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Asian Elephant Species Survival Plan, which works to help the species survive with a growing, genetically diverse population in North American zoos. In partnership with Wildlife Trust of India and the International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission, the Columbus Zoo also recently established the Center of Species Survival for Asian Elephants.

Not long ago, elephants Connie, Hank and Sabu departed from the Columbus Zoo. The additions of Johnson and Raja — a breeding bull elephant from the Saint Louis Zoo joining the Columbus Zoo’s herd in 2025 — will give the female elephants a greater chance of success in producing babies.

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Beginning in August, the Columbus Zoo will hold its first ever lantern festival featuring LED animal figures. Featured in the display will be 60 sets of multicolored LED animal lanterns.

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