It may seem like an unlikely match to some, but a 5-month-old female hound mix will now be living in the elephant barn and working with the enormous creatures at the Seneca Park Zoo.
Zuzu, adopted from Lollypop Farm, will play several roles as an elephant barn dog, county officials said.
“In addition to helping our dedicated staff enhance their training skills, Zuzu will also provide companionship and enrichment to the elephants who call our zoo home,” Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo said in a statement. “In their natural habitat, elephants encounter many different species of animals, so our elephants will be well-equipped to live happily alongside Zuzu moving forward.”
Zuzu will reside permanently in the elephant barn and also will join the zoo security team on night-time rounds.
Elephant programs at other zoos have had great success integrating barn dogs, county officials said.