Zoo Miami To Welcome Two African Elephants In 2016

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Zoo Miami will welcome two new additions in the Spring of next year - a pair of African elephants.

The female elephants, Lisa and Cita, will be brought down from Virginia's zoo in Norfolk.

Lisa has lived at the Virginia Zoo for most of her life. Cita, who was born in 1968, is a movie star. She's appeared in a number of films including "The Color Purple," "Sheena Queen of the Jungle," and "Pee Wee's Big Adventure." Both elephants like to paint and their artwork has been auctioned at Virginia Zoo events.

The move is in response to new criteria from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums which require zoos with elephants to have at least three of them by September 2016. According to the association, social interaction is an important part of elephants' mental and physical health.

Zoo Miami has two female African elephants, Mable and Peggy.

The Virginia Zoo says in a news release that Zoo Miami will provide the best combination of climate, space and socialization for Lisa and Cita.

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