Elephant Trail being constructed at Werribee Open Range Zoo with repurposed materials

Werribee Open Range Zoo, located in Melbourne’s west, is undergoing an $88 million redevelopment which includes a five-kilometre perimeter fence for the new Asian elephant habitat.

The new Elephant Trail which will become home for the herd currently living at Melbourne Zoo, includes three pregnant females with calves expected to be born in the coming months – one of which is Mali, the first ever elephant to be born at Melbourne Zoo.

The habitat is expected to be complete for Zoos Victoria’s Asian elephant herd to move in 2024.

Victorian Minister for the Environment and Climate Action Lily D’Ambrosio unveiled the prototype for the perimeter fencing which aims to keep the new Asian elephant herd safe and secured and must be engineered to withstand the weight and force of a herd of adult Asian elephants.

The fence is being built from repurposed construction materials that have been donated by government agencies including VicTrack, Victoria’s Big Build, Bushfire Recovery Victoria and commercial companies from across Melbourne.

Zoos Victoria Chief Executive Dr Jenny Gray advised “the purpose-built Elephant Trail at Werribee Open Range Zoo will be the gold standard in animal welfare, with the herd able to roam across 21 hectares.”

The repurposed rail track from Level Crossing Removal Projectand elevator cable will be used to construct the perimeter fencing for the Elephant Trail and the Asian wild horse, American bison and Southern white rhinoceros’s facilities.

The repurposed timber will be used to construct animal enrichment structures, boardwalks and gates, and visitor amenities.

Expanding Werribee Open Range Zoo will provide a significant boost for the local economy with the creation of 350 jobs, including 90 jobs to care for animals and enhance visitor experience.

Once complete, Werribee Open Range Zoo’s redevelopment is expected to contribute more than $17.8 million annually to Victoria’s economy.

Image: Mali, the first ever elephant to be born at Melbourne Zoo. Credit: Zoos Victoria