Zoos, including 1 in Kansas get permission to bring in elephants from Africa

Elephants of the Zambezi River Valley under construction at the Sedgwick County Zoo- courtesy image

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Zoos in Kansas, Nebraska and Texas have received federal approval to bring in new elephants from Africa.

KFDI-AM reports the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas, the Dallas Zoo in Texas and the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

in Omaha, Nebraska, were part of the joint application. They made the request to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

ICYMI – The permit w/ @DallasZoo & @OmahaZoo to import elephants from Swaziland is APPROVED! Read more: https://t.co/Wuik0cQh48

— Sedgwick County Zoo (@SedgwickCoZoo) January 22, 2016

The three zoos want to bring a total of 18 elephants from Swaziland to their facilities. Importing the animals would allow the country to make room for critically endangered rhinos that have been threatened by drought conditions.

The Sedgwick County Zoo has a new elephant exhibit that will be opening in the spring. The facility is looking to get one male and five female elephants.