TUSK! TUSK! JACKSON DONATES AN ELEPHANT

Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

February 21, 1997,

With the recent birth of his son, singer Michael Jackson got rid of one hungry mouth to feed by donating his pet African elephant, Ali, to the

Jacksonville Zoological Gardens.

The 4,500-pound male elephant arrived on Thursday by truck after a four-day ride from Jackson's Neverland Zoo near Los Angeles.

"We're really excited," said Doreen Sabina, a zoo spokeswoman.

Ali has been living at Neverland since 1993, when he was imported from an overpopulated herd in Kruger National Park in South Africa.

Jackson originally had planned to breed the elephant, but when construction of his breeding areas was delayed, he decided to donate the animal to an established elephant breeding program, Sabina said.

"I hope to visit Ali at the Jacksonville Zoo one day soon after Ali settles in," Jackson said.

The zoo plans to try to breed the 7-year-old elephant in about two years.

Ali will go on display when he becomes acclimated to his new home, Ms.Sabina said.