Auckland Zoo’s Asian elephant arrives at Monarto Safari Park

Auckland Zoo is pleased to share news that Asian elephant Burma has arrived at her new forever home at Zoos South Australia’s (ZSA) Monarto Safari Park where she will soon become part of a larger herd.

Burma (42), who was accompanied by two of the Zoo’s senior elephant keepers and its veterinary manager throughout her Trans-Tasman travel yesterday, is the first of five elephants due to arrive at the Park’s expansive new 12 hectare elephant habitat over the coming year.

Along with Burma from Auckland Zoo, two elephants from Perth Zoo and two elephants from Taronga Zoo Sydney will form a founding family herd as part of the Australasian Zoo Aquarium Association’s regional advocacy and breeding programme for this Endangered species.

Tātaki Auckland Unlimited Auckland Zoo director Kevin Buley advised “our highest priority has always been to do the right thing for Burma and get her into a situation where she can be part of a larger elephant family herd. Her arrival in Australia is a huge step in that direction.

“It’s been a long and complicated journey already to get to this point, with the construction of the new habitat at Monarto Safari Park and all the challenges of moving an animal as large as Burma between two countries. It’s only been possible as a result of the phenomenal dedication and skills of our Auckland Zoo team led by our team leader of elephants, Andrew Coers, and a huge amount of incredible teamwork with our friends at Zoos South Australia.

“It’s been a properly bittersweet moment for us all. Whilst we are all upset to have Burma leave us and we will miss her terribly, it is with the knowledge that she is going to an amazing new home in Australia where she will be cared for and loved as much as she was in New Zealand.”

Auckland Zoo veterinary manager Dr James Chatterton, who accompanied Burma throughout her travel, says Burma is doing well following her Trans-Tasman travel yesterday.

“Burma coped exceptionally well throughout her entire road and aircraft journey yesterday.  For an elephant travelling for the first time in 34 years, it couldn’t have gone better. This is testament to all of the preparations and planning that went into this move, and to the relationships that Andrew and the team have with Burma.

 “As we expected, Burma is tired, though she has had some sleep overnight, and importantly has been eating and drinking, and has peed and pooed, which are all good signs she is doing okay. It’s also been great to see her exploring her barn and adjoining yard environment while she is in quarantine. We’ll continue to monitor Burma closely over the coming days as her keepers settle her in.”

Working alongside their Australian colleagues, Andrew Coers and the Zoo’s elephant keepers will stay on with Burma for as long as required to fully settle her in and integrate her with her new elephant family. Collectively they have many decades, and a wealth of experience and expertise, in caring for elephants. (Burma arrived at Auckland Zoo in 1990, and Andrew Coers alone, has been part of her life for over 25 years!).

“Although Burma has left us to start her new life over the Tasman, she leaves us with so many happy memories and a legacy of connecting with millions upon millions of visitors over the 34 years that Auckland Zoo was her home. We know that she is going to have that same special impact on the wider community in South Australia, and, although she is now over 3000km away, we will always have an attachment to her, and will continue to follow her story closely,” added Buley.

Zoos South Australia Chief Executive Elaine Bensted says welcoming Burma as the first elephant to Monarto Safari Park is an exciting day.

“It’s been 30 years since an elephant called South Australia home, and the response to our fundraising campaign showed just how much it means to Adelaide’s elephant and conservation-loving community to once again see these awe-inspiring animals.

“We are honoured that we can support Burma through her twilight years and will have Andrew and the Auckland Zoo team playing such a pivotal role in working alongside our staff to settle her in. Our new world-class elephant habitat will cater to Burma and the incoming herd’s complex social needs and structure in a way that is close to how they would live in the wild.”

“Having elephants at Monarto Safari Park as part of the Zoo Aquarium Association’s regional breeding and advocacy program now also means that more Australians will get to experience and learn about elephants and join us in supporting the vital conservation work needed to save these gentle giants from extinction.”

Images from top: Elephant team leader Andrew Coers with Asian elephant Burma Credit: New Zealand Herald; Burma leaving New Zealand; Burma at Monarto Safari Park