The famous Buttonwood Park Zoo elephants, Emily and Ruth, will be be getting an updated home. Rumor has it they may also be fighting. 

The zoo is beginning a renovation project which will expand the habitat and modernize the elephant barn, like a heated outdoor shelter. In addition to the aesthetic upgrades there will be “enhanced guest viewing opportunities.”

The decision to upgrade the elephant exhibit came after a report found that Emily and Ruth’s habitat was not sufficient.

Wildlife biologist and elephant scientist with In Defense of Animals, Dr. Toni Frohoff, said Buttonwood Zoo offers  “an inadequate facility and social structure’’ for the elephants.

That’s not the only report that has been released – one found that the two elephants have exhibited aggressive behavior towards one another.  Some say that the pair should be permanently moved to an elephant sanctuary.

Lovett defended their treatment of the beloved animals saying, “The panel performed a very thorough review of our elephant program. The panel confirmed what we have always known to be true: we are doing a good job caring for Emily and Ruth.’’

Hopefully the new renovations will make for a better home for the beloved elephants and they’ll  stop fighting (allegedly!)

The two female Asian elephants are among the zoo’s most popular attractions. Emily, 51, arrived at the zoo 47 years ago from Baton Rouge Zoo in Louisiana. Ruth, 56, was found abandoned in a truck near a dumpsite and arrived at Buttonwood back in October 1986.

As far as the renovations go, zoo officials hope the outdoor enclosure for the elephants will be complete by the fall and the barn will be done summer 2016.

Additional reporting by Victoria Meneses

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