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An association of the nation's top zoos has chosen an old citrus grove in Fellsmere in Indian River County to build its 225-acre National Elephant Center to lodge African and Asian elephants. The Association of Zoos & Aquariums believes a center will give member zoos flexibility in managing their elephants. The center, opening
its first phase in 2012, will take in
elephants whose zoo facilities are undergoing renovation, older bulls unmanageable at their existing zoos and elephants whose exhibits close. The center also will be a training center for elephant workers.
Rick Barongi, center chairman and director of the Houston Zoo, says the Florida site has the right climate, no residential neighbors and is near zoos and Disney that have excellent elephant care expertise.
Polk County, incidentally, is home to the 200-acre Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus Center for Elephant Conservation, site of the largest Asian elephant herd in North America.