Enron's Involvement

In August, 1997, Enron, one of the world's leading electricity, natural gas and communications companies, promised to donate a female Asian elephant calf to the Oregon Zoo. At that time, Enron had recently acquired Portland General Electric, Oregon's largest electric utility.
The donation of Chendra to the Oregon Zoo reflects both Enron and PGE's commitment to the Portland community, where the zoo is a popular family destination and its research on elephants is known worldwide. The zoo and Enron have cooperated with the Smithsonian Institution's Conservation and Research Center and the Malaysian Wildlife Department to locate Chendra. It is hoped that her journey to the zoo and subsequent educational activities will raise public awareness of the need for protecting Asian elephants and other endangered species.
Enron has paid all the expenses of finding Chendra, sending zoo staff on several expeditions to Southeast Asia and transporting the young elephant from Malaysia to Oregon.
In addition to sponsoring the elephant adoption, Enron hosted a benefit concert at the zoo in September, 1997, featuring Smokey Robinson, in which proceeds (more than $32,000) were donated to the Smithsonian Institution-Malaysian Program for the continued protection of endangered Asian elephants. The funds were used to purchase three radio satellite transmitting collars and satellite processing time so that several elephants could be tracked after relocation in the forests of Malaysia.