NORFOLK, Va. (WVEC) -- Two beloved elephants from the Virginia zoo arrived at their new home in Miami Tuesday.
There were frequent stops for water and watermelons during the 22-hour road trip. Staff from both zoos accompanied them.
According to the Zoo blog, Lisa and Cita are tired from the trip, but seem to be adjusting well.
13News Now first told you about Lisa and Cita last year after a new policy required the elephants be kept in larger herds. Since one of the elephants Monica died, it's just been Lisa and Cita at the zoo.
Zoo Director Greg Bockheim called the decision “one of the toughest decisions that I’ve had to make in my career, but I know that it’s the right one for our elephant program and for Lisa and Cita.”
Zoo keepers in Miami came to Norfolk over the course of several months to build relationships with the elephants.
“Elephants are very intelligent animals and we have a relationship with them, it's a trust-based relationship,” Elephant Manager Jennifer McNamara says. “They know us and they trust us and they look to us for comfort. We have a relationship with them and they know us and we love them so of course it's very hard for us.”
The pair joins Zoo Miami's current females, Peggy and Mabel, after a quarantine period. The warmer temperatures are already a big plus for Lisa and Cita, who will enjoy the softer ground and larger exhibit space.
Due to their ages, Lisa and Cita will not be part of the zoo's breeding program.
The pair is set to make their public debut on May 20.
