Overview
- Alice, a 52-year-old Asian elephant at ABQ BioPark, was found on a public walkway around 7:30 a.m. Sunday and returned to her habitat without injury while the zoo was closed.
- Keepers reached her within about 10 minutes, used recall training as heavy equipment blocked turnarounds, and guided her back calmly with no risk to staff or other animals.
- Officials said she broke welds on a stationary steel barrier that had gone nearly 20 years without an update, a section now rebuilt and reinforced near the habitat’s water pond.
- The zoo opened 30 minutes late Sunday and is inspecting other habitats for weak spots, with enclosure upgrades planned using Gross Receipts Tax funds.
- Security video released this week shows a calm stroll along the main walkway, and staff say her behavior was back to normal by Monday.