Treasure Coast leaders met in Fellsmere yesterday for the annual meeting of the Treasure Coast Regional League of Cities.  Before attending a luncheon at Marsh Landing Restaurant, attendees visited the National Elephant Center.

The 30-acre, $2.5 million project, which is a collaborative effort of 73 zoos from across the country, will eventually span 225 acres on the Fellsmere Grace, about three miles northwest of downtown Fellsmere.  In mid May, the Center received its first residents, a family group of four African elephants, consisting of two females and two males.

The center will be home to aging elephants, young male elephants, transitioning herds, and others being moved between zoos.

Phase one includes a 13,000-square-foot open air receiving area, a keeper’s station and four paddocks.  Up to nine elephants will be housed in the initial phase.  The elephants will begin arriving in the late spring, said executive director John Lehnhardt.  Eventually the center will accommodate up to 37 elephants.

Though the center will not be open to the general public, visiting schoolchildren and adult groups will be invited out, and will be able to see the elephants from a viewing area next to the keeper’s station.

Lehnhardt explained that the initial funding for the purchase of the land and construction of phase one came from the participating zoos.  He said the group plans to expand fundraising to appeal to private donors.