Asian Elephant, Burma – the newest member of the Zoos SA family – has safely arrived at Monarto Safari Park after a giant journey recently from Auckland Zoo.

Forty-two-year-old Burma is the first elephant to arrive at the park’s new world-class 12 hectare elephant habitat, where she will be joined over the coming year by four other elephants: female Permai (33) and male Putra Mas (33) from Perth Zoo, and females Pak Boon (31) and Tang Mo (25) from Taronga Zoo Sydney.

Auckland Zoo elephant team leader, Andrew Coers, who travelled with Burma on her flight yesterday, says the team is really happy with how Burma is recovering from her journey.

“Burma had a good sleep last night, all her movements are positive and she’s eating well which is what we were hoping to see,” Andrew says.

“She’s moving around her new environment, sussing it all out, smelling everything and generally making herself at home. We’ll continue to monitor her as she settles in, but early indications are that she’s recovering well from a long day of travel,” he said.

Zoos SA Chief Executive, Elaine Bensted, says the team are absolutely thrilled to welcome Burma to her new forever home at Monarto Safari Park.

“It’s hard to believe she’s finally here! It was a long trip for her from Auckland to Monarto yesterday, but there’s been so many of us on this journey with her for over a year now,” Elaine says.

“It’s been 30 years now since South Australia had a resident elephant and we know just how much it means to the elephant and conservation-loving community to see these awe-inspiring animals back roaming the Mallee Plains,” she says.

Together, the five Asian Elephants will form a founding herd as part of the Australasian Zoo and Aquarium Association’s (ZAA) regional breeding and advocacy program for Asian Elephants – an endangered species with a continuing declining wild population due to habitat loss/fragmentation, and human-elephant conflict.

Director of Monarto Safari Park, Peter Clark, says the team at Monarto Safari Park has just put the finishing touches on the customised elephant barn, which includes heating, cooling, and solar power.

“This is where Burma will primarily spend her quarantine period, and in the adjoining outdoor yard, so she won’t be out in public areas for visitors to see her until quarantine is completed and she’s comfortable enough to be out in the wider habitat,” Peter says.

As is a standard requirement for all international zoo-to-zoo transfers, Burma will be in quarantine at Monarto Safari Park for her first few weeks, where she’ll have the support, familiar company and expert care of her elephant keepers who are travelling with her from New Zealand.

Working alongside their Monarto Safari Park colleagues, three Auckland Zoo elephant team members will stay on with Burma for as long as required to provide her with the familiar, reassuring company and continuity of care that will help her to fully settle into her new environment and meet and integrate with her new elephant family.

Auckland Zoo staff include elephant team leader Andrew Coers (who has worked with Burma for more than 25 years and is a key member of the project team for the development of the new elephant habitat), senior elephant keeper Corryn Coers (who has worked with Burma for 22 years), and senior elephant keeper Odin Neil who has worked with Burma for 14 years.

Monarto Safari Park is open seven days a week, from 9.30am to 5pm. With demand expected to significantly increase upon Burma’s arrival, and daily park capacity limited to ensure the best visitor experience, non-members will need to reserve their tickets online to avoid disappointment.

Hero image is Burma, photographed by Brett Phibbs.

Visit monartosafari.com.au to book your adventure today!

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