Zoo Miami Sings Happy Birthday To Dalip The Elephant

SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE (CBS4) – They're singing Happy Birthday at Zoo Miami Wednesday as Dalip, an Asian bull elephant, celebrates his 45th birthday.

Dalip has resided at Zoo Miami since 1967. He was born at the Trivandrum Zoo in Kerela, India, in 1966 and moved to Crandon Park Zoo on Key Biscayne in 1967.

Dalip is one of the longest residents of Zoo Miami and one of the oldest Asian bulls in North America. Weighing in at 11,600 pounds and standing over 10-feet tall, Dalip is considered one of the largest Asian elephants in the country.

Of course it's not a birthday party without cake so zoo keepers are giving Dalip an elephant sized cupcake made of his favorite treats. Zoo visitors will also receive regular birthday cupcakes while supplies last.

Dalip's birthday kicks off a weeklong celebration of Elephant Awareness. For the next seven days, a variety of activities will take place revolving around the African and Asian elephants. They include behind-the-scenes looks at elephant husbandry, the opportunity to purchase unique elephant art, special elephant keeper meet and greets, a scavenger hunt, and a watermelon eating contest to see how fast a person can eat a single slice compared to an elephant eating the whole melon.

The entire schedule of activities is available at www.zoomiami.org.