Shanti, Joy, and Kirby’s Big Move

Houston has watched this family grow. Shanti, Joy, and Kirby will soon move to another AZA-accredited zoo, and before they go, we want to share who they are and what they have meant here.

You might recognize Shanti before you hear her name. She has one of the most distinctive profiles in the herd, with a large, heart-shaped head, pronounced domes, and a ridge along her back. At 36, she is one of our most experienced elephants, with seven calves born right here in Houston. In the herd’s social hierarchy, she tends to yield rather than push. But watch her with her daughters, and you understand exactly who she is.

Joy arrived on July 12, 2017, a 305-pound bundle born to Shanti in the McNair Asian Elephant Habitat cow barn. For her first two years, she was exactly what her name suggested: full of energy, curious about everything, and a constant source of delight for guests and keepers alike.

Then, in the spring of 2019, her bloodwork showed something alarming. Joy had contracted EEHV, Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus, a disease that can turn fatal within days. For more than a week, her team wasn’t sure she was going to make it. She received round-the-clock care, antiviral medications, and blood and plasma transfusions, more than 17 units donated by her herdmate Methai. The protocols used to save Joy’s life were developed right here at the Houston Zoo in partnership with Baylor College of Medicine, and they have since guided treatment for elephant calves at zoos across the country. Joy fought hard, and she made it. She rejoined the herd alongside her mother when it was over.

Kirby is the newest member of this family and, at almost two years old, already one of the most famous elephants in Houston. She was born on November 15, 2024, after a 19-hour labor, weighing 314 pounds. She was standing six minutes after birth. Walking 25 minutes later. Nursing within 90 minutes. Her wide eyes at birth captivated people from the start. Keepers noted it was a sign of strength, helping newborn elephants keep pace with their herd. Named after Kirby Drive as a nod to her hometown, she quickly built a devoted following online, with fans who call themselves the Kirby Krew. She made her national television debut on Good Morning America before she was even two months old.

Shanti, Joy, and Kirby will make this move together and will remain a family at their new home.

Their move is part of the AZA Species Survival Plan, which works to ensure the long-term health and genetic diversity of Asian elephants in human care. The Houston Zoo, in partnership with Baylor College of Medicine, continues to lead global research and treatment for EEHV, a disease well-documented in elephants in Thailand and across Asia. The vaccine our team developed protects elephants in human care and, ultimately, those living in the wild.

If you haven’t had a chance to spend time with this family at the McNair Asian Elephant Habitat, we hope you will come visit soon.