African savanna elephants are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because their population decreased by at least 60% from the 1970s to 2021. This is why three zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) helped orchestrate an elephant rescue mission in 2016 when Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, declared a state of emergency due to extreme droughts. Relocating the elephants was a complex logistical process with careful planning and cooperation between Hlane Royal National Park officials in Eswatini and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Not only was Eswatini facing extreme droughts, but food supply scarcity and pressure on other wildlife conservation contributed to the urgency to relocate the elephants. Conservationists were concerned the elephants would be culled to combat the ecological risks created by the drought. After the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service granted the permit for the elephants to be moved, the AZA worked to ensure they were quickly and safely brought to the facilities in the USA.

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Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquariumadopted five females: Jayei, Kiki, Claire, Omma and Lolly, who live in the 28-acre African Grasslands habitat among other African wildlife. The AZA-accredited Omaha Zoo is considered one of the top five zoos n the world, and they participate in the African Elephant Species Survival Plan (SSP) with other accredited zoos to help ensure the health and survival of the species.

Through the SSP, the Omaha Zoo hosted different males in the hopes the females of their herd would be impressed by their suitors. It can be difficult to introduce new elephants to established herds, but it can be especially difficult to introduce adult males because elephant herds are matriarchal. The Omaha herd was no exception, but they found a match when Callee arrived from Birmingham in May 2019. Callee was born at the Pittsburgh Zoo in 2000 and weighed 9,080 pounds, making him the largest elephant of the Omaha herd. He quickly became an integral member of their herd, increasing their social wellbeing.