Monarto Safari Park Monarto Safari Park News 2024

[Luke899]

Burma has safely arrived at monarto, and has been released into part of the enclosure. this is a big moment not only for her but the entire ZooSA family

Potentially sleeping in the barn tonight. She’ll be able to see all the stars for the first time, away from the light pollution of the city

 

[Zoofan15]

Burma has safely arrived at monarto, and has been released into part of the enclosure. this is a big moment not only for her but the entire ZooSA family

Potentially sleeping in the barn tonight. She’ll be able to see all the stars for the first time, away from the light pollution of the city

I’m glad to hear Burma has arrived safely. This will be her fourth home:

1982: Born in a logging camp in Myanmar
1990: Arrived at Auckland Zoo, lived in the Elephant House (1923)
1992: Moved to the then state of the art Elephant Clearing exhibit
2024: Moved to one of the world’s largest open range zoos

Zoos SA should be extremely proud of all they’ve achieved in bringing elephants back to Monarto. It was just over a year ago that they begun fundraising for this complex and now they’ve welcomed their first elephant; with another four to come. With Auckland, Taronga and Perth resolute in their decision to phase out, I’m thrilled all five elephants have been retained within the region.

 

[Jambo]

Burma has safely arrived at monarto, and has been released into part of the enclosure. this is a big moment not only for her but the entire ZooSA family

Potentially sleeping in the barn tonight. She’ll be able to see all the stars for the first time, away from the light pollution of the city

Very happy to hear Burma has safely arrived and is settling in well.

Huge congratulations to both teams Zoos SA and Auckland for the successful move, I do know how much has gone into this move. Most of her keepers have made the trip over (some permanently) with her to assist her settling in. Can't wait to get photos/videos of her in her new home tomorrow.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

People are making a fuss about the potential traffic delays rn. I’m like… dude Imagine the delays when there’s two elephants driving out of the airport with Perth and Taronga elephants coming simultaneously in their pairs. That’s gonna be a much longer motorcade. And it’ll happen twice

I wish the elephants will become so numerous as completely block the through highways.... Perhaps then climate change measures will start becoming more effective.

Please send us more Purple and Red Elephants!

 

[Zoofan15]

I wish the elephants will become so numerous as completely block the through highways.... Perhaps then climate change measures will start becoming more effective.

Please send us more Purple and Red Elephants!

On that note, I know a number of us would prefer to see shorter birth intervals from our region’s breeding female elephants.

While Werribee will hopefully be aiming for around five years, I’m optimistic we might even see Pak Boon breeding at natural birth intervals given she’d be a minimum of 35/36 years by the time her next calf is born - hopefully with another 1-2 follow on after that into her early-mid 40’s. She’ll be Monarto’s only breeding cow and they certainly have the capacity with 12ha and multiple paddocks!

 

[Luke899]

Credit: Auckland zoo

 

[Zoofan15]

Credit: Auckland zoo
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Burma settling in well:

Elephant Burma arrives at new home in Australia | Auckland Zoo News

“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. 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,” explains our elephant team leader Andrew.

 

[Luke899]

From SAWater (South Australia's water provider.)

Ele-fantastic news!

Through our partnership with Zoos SA, we’ve recently helped fill the waterhole in the new Clover Leaf area at Monarto Safari Park Safari Park, soon to be home to the majestic Burma the elephant.

This special waterhole is a key feature of her new habitat, offering a place for Burma to drink, cool off and make a big splash.

 

[Luke899]

This facebook post below has 55 images of the new elephant barn and water pools at Monarto Safari park.

I can't post them all here, so have a look for yourself . Really great photos, taken a day before Burma's arrival.

>> Tom Carstairs <<

 

[Zoofan15]

This facebook post below has 55 images of the new elephant barn and water pools at Monarto Safari park.

I can't post them all here, so have a look for yourself . Really great photos, taken a day before Burma's arrival.

>> Tom Carstairs <<

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Thanks for sharing. The photos indicate the complex is still a considerable way off completion. Even the adjoining yard to the night house has incomplete fencing as shown in the first picture, though Burma’s 30 day quarantine will give them more than enough time to remedy that; with the longer term goal of continuing work on the paddocks - the waterhole is looking good!

The interior of the barn looks spacious. Burma is clearly having the time of her life with the sand mounds (primarily used for sleeping), which are similarly popular at Melbourne.

 

[Luke899]

I'll stop posting photos soon I promise... I'm clogging up the feed

 

[Jambo]

Official Update on Burma's Arrival from Monarto:

The elephant has landed at Monarto Safari Park! - Monarto Safari Park

Director of Monarto Safari Park, Peter Clark, says bringing the herd together is a win-win for everyone.

“Female elephants are highly social, and typically live in matriarchal herds. Here within this new Monarto herd, Burma will contribute to and greatly benefit from being with other elephants in this way,” said Peter.

Works continue at Monarto Safari Park, where there is still more to be done to prepare for the arrival of the other four elephants throughout 2025, plus the additional visitor viewing areas and walking tracks that are being developed.

“It’s been a fantastic project to work with experts from both Auckland Zoo and Perth Zoo on the design of the new elephant precinct here at Monarto Safari Park,” said Peter. “We’ve converted 12ha of the Mallee Plains into an enriching home made up of four separate areas that accommodates the complex social dynamics of both cows and bull elephants. There’s varied terrain and vegetation to support both foraging and shade, and most importantly for Asian Elephants, there’s numerous waterholes and mud wallows.”

“The team here at Monarto Safari Park has just put the finishing touches on the customised elephant barn, which includes heating, cooling, and solar power,” Peter said. “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.”

 

[Zoofan15]

Official Update on Burma's Arrival from Monarto:

The elephant has landed at Monarto Safari Park! - Monarto Safari Park

Director of Monarto Safari Park, Peter Clark, says bringing the herd together is a win-win for everyone.

“Female elephants are highly social, and typically live in matriarchal herds. Here within this new Monarto herd, Burma will contribute to and greatly benefit from being with other elephants in this way,” said Peter.

Works continue at Monarto Safari Park, where there is still more to be done to prepare for the arrival of the other four elephants throughout 2025, plus the additional visitor viewing areas and walking tracks that are being developed.

“It’s been a fantastic project to work with experts from both Auckland Zoo and Perth Zoo on the design of the new elephant precinct here at Monarto Safari Park,” said Peter. “We’ve converted 12ha of the Mallee Plains into an enriching home made up of four separate areas that accommodates the complex social dynamics of both cows and bull elephants. There’s varied terrain and vegetation to support both foraging and shade, and most importantly for Asian Elephants, there’s numerous waterholes and mud wallows.”

“The team here at Monarto Safari Park has just put the finishing touches on the customised elephant barn, which includes heating, cooling, and solar power,” Peter said. “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.”

The new complex sounds as fantastic as Werribee’s. The environment will be endlessly enriching, even more so if all four cows can be integrated, meaning they can be rotated across a larger number of paddocks - with time allowing for stand down/recovery between use.

It’ll be a decade since Pak Boon and Tang Mo last saw a adult bull elephant; and Burma hasn’t seen one since she was a juvenile (assuming the logging camp she was born at continued to hold bulls on site following her birth). It will be hugely exciting for them all when Putra Mas arrives on site. I remember how excited the Melbourne cows were when the then adolescent Luk Chai arrived.

 

[Zoofan15]

Pak Boon and Tang Mo could be arriving next:

The accompanying text to this video posted on Auckland Zoo’s socials states the following:

Alongside our friends at Monarto Safari Park, we’ll keep you updated on how Burma is progressing – including when she is introduced to the first two elephants that will make up her herd, with the support of our incredible keepers.

This implies Pak Boon and Tang Mo could be the next to arrive; which is further supported by the fact the complex as a whole is a way off completion (with cow facilities clearly prioritised over the bull facilities due to Putra Mas’ transfer being delayed by his musth cycle).

While Perth won’t be able to recommence crate training until at least May 2025, there’s little reason to further delay Pak Boon and Tang Mo; and having Pak Boon settled sooner rather than later will mean the sooner they can proceed with breeding from her once Putra Mas arrives on site.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1473565376615195

 

[Luke899]

Pak Boon and Tang Mo could be arriving next:

The accompanying text to this video posted on Auckland Zoo’s socials states the following:

Alongside our friends at Monarto Safari Park, we’ll keep you updated on how Burma is progressing – including when she is introduced to the first two elephants that will make up her herd, with the support of our incredible keepers.

This implies Pak Boon and Tang Mo could be the next to arrive; which is further supported by the fact the complex as a whole is a way off completion (with cow facilities clearly prioritised over the bull facilities due to Putra Mas’ transfer being delayed by his musth cycle).

While Perth won’t be able to recommence crate training until at least May 2025, there’s little reason to further delay Pak Boon and Tang Mo; and having Pak Boon settled sooner rather than later will mean the sooner they can proceed with breeding from her once Putra Mas arrives on site.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1473565376615195

Have Tang Mo and Pak Boon commenced crate training?

I can’t see any crate in their enclosures on the live-stream camera.

 

[Zoofan15]

Have Tang Mo and Pak Boon commenced crate training?

I can’t see any crate in their enclosures on the live-stream camera.

I’m not 100%. Melbourne Zoo have spent close to 18 months crate training their elephants (albeit with mothers/calves); and Auckland Zoo began around a year prior to the March/April 2022 planned exports of Anjalee and Burma.

I’d be surprised if it wasn’t already underway at Taronga, given mid-2025 has previously been given as a transfer date. On the plus side, Pak Boon and Tang Mo previously received crate training to bring them to Australia; and Taronga had a trailer to transport the cows to Gung’s exhibit in the early to mid-2010’s.

 

[Jambo]

Have Tang Mo and Pak Boon commenced crate training?

I can’t see any crate in their enclosures on the live-stream camera.

It doesn't seem like they have, so at earliest if they were to arrive prior to Perth's duo it would be around the same time.

Crate training can only take months depending on the individual/s, but Taronga's females have travelled via crate multiple times before, and without calves involved the process should be much easier.

 

[Luke899]

Heres also the press conference with ZooSA director Elaine Bensted and Auckland Zoo director Kevin Buley on the arrival of Burma at her new home.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=478345307969397

 

[Luke899]

Burma having fun outside today , loving the sand pit

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=8613854812024266

 

[Jambo]

Burma having fun outside today , loving the sand pit

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=8613854812024266

Would be very enriching for her being in a completely different environment (especially weather wise too). I'm glad to see her settling in well, she certainly looks like she's enjoying the spaces she has access to now!