Zoo

Raja the elephant has been one of the biggest attractions — literally and figuratively — at the St. Louis Zoo for decades. Now, he’s moving away. The zoo announced Thursday that the male Asian elephant born at the zoo nearly 31 years ago will be relocated to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio, probably in about a year. The hope is that he’ll bond with four females in Columbus, breed, and mentor a young male there. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Asian Elephant Species Survival Plan recommended the move. The program seeks to manage the Asian elephant population in North America and maximize their health, wellbeing and genetic diversity.

Regional news coverage from the KBIA News room, including:Some Joplin residents are filing complaints about changes in mail delivery.The University of…

The St. Louis Zoo Association plans to purchase the site of the former Forest Park Hospital, which sits across Interstate 64 from the zoo.The agreement…