Tulsa Zoo Welcomes Three Asian Elephants

Shanti, Joy and Kirby arrived from Houston Zoo and are settling in before going on exhibit.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Wildlife

Tulsa Zoo Welcomes Three Asian Elephants

Tulsa Zoo received three Asian elephants from Houston Zoo on Tuesday, November 3. The group includes Shanti, 36, Joy, 9, and Kirby, 1, and the elephants are not yet on exhibit.

Why it matters

The arrival adds to the zoo's Asian elephant herd, which now totals 13 with the newcomers. The elephants will be introduced to keepers and the existing herd before going on display.

Joy was born July 12, 2017, weighing 305 pounds, and was diagnosed with active EEHV in spring 2019, later recovering with round-the-clock care and transfusions. Kirby was born November 15, 2024, weighing 314 pounds, and was among the first U.S. elephant calves to receive the EEHV vaccine.

The players

Tulsa Zoo

The Tulsa, Oklahoma zoo received the three elephants and houses the existing Asian elephant herd.

Houston Zoo

The Houston, Texas zoo sent the three elephants to Tulsa and previously treated Joy for EEHV.

The details

Shanti, Joy and Kirby arrived at the zoo and are being introduced to keepers and the existing herd. Visitors may glimpse the elephants exploring new spaces inside the Elephant Preserve Barn, though they are not yet on exhibit.

July 12, 2017: Joy is born, weighing 305 pounds.
Spring 2019: Joy is diagnosed with active EEHV at Houston Zoo.
November 15, 2024: Kirby is born, weighing 314 pounds.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Shanti, Joy and Kirby arrive at Tulsa Zoo.

Culture Shift

Kirby was among the first elephant calves in the United States to receive the EEHV vaccine, part of a broader effort by zoos to protect young elephants from a deadly herpesvirus. Her arrival extends that protection to the Tulsa herd as zoos increasingly share vaccine-era animals across facilities.

Tulsa residents may occasionally glimpse the elephants exploring new spaces inside the Elephant Preserve Barn. The elephants will go on exhibit once they finish acclimating to the zoo.

The takeaway

The arrival shows how zoos move animals between facilities to strengthen herds and share care practices. Readers interested in elephant health can watch how vaccinated calves like Kirby settle into new habitats over time.