Australian Asian Elephant Population 2025

Update on moving date for Melbourne’s elephants:

https://www.themercury.com.au/news/...bourne/video/474c8f269e39b670cab7967de1cb70ee

Following reports Melbourne’s elephants would be moving late January/early February, this appears to have been updated to “moving in the coming weeks”.

This ties in with comments around the complex nearing completion in the latest video from Zoos Victoria (but not yet being complete).

The zoo will no doubt be looking to work with the weather; though moving early morning will off-set the heat and each move is anticipated to take around two hours, meaning this is less of an issue than for the recent transfer of Permai.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Update on moving date for Melbourne’s elephants:

https://www.themercury.com.au/news/...bourne/video/474c8f269e39b670cab7967de1cb70ee

Following reports Melbourne’s elephants would be moving late January/early February, this appears to have been updated to “moving in the coming weeks”.

This ties in with comments around the complex nearing completion in the latest video from Zoos Victoria (but not yet being complete).

The zoo will no doubt be looking to work with the weather, though moving early morning will off-set the heat and each move is anticipated to take around two hours, meaning this is less of an issue than for the recent transfer of Permai.
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I was just about to announce this, beat me to it!

There was no reason given; I'm sure it's only a minor delay and they'll be transferring across next week, or at the latest, the week after. Weather seems to be heating up next week but it shouldn't be much of an issue given they'll be transferring early morning and the move should only take an hour or so.

The elephant sections of the complex are virtually complete it's more so the visitor amenities and areas that still require a little bit of work. This doesn't delay the elephants moving in though as they'd likely be given a week or so to settle in before the public is allowed to view them.

Also, here's a link that shows the video;
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/n...o-home/video/b163b5519c6a045d7c8c006d4f69e404
 
ZCChip said:
Are they moving them all at once or in pairs/trios?
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The arrival order will be:

1.0 Luk Chai (2009) - first/transferring alone

A few days later:

0.1 Kulab (2000)
0.1 Num-Oi (2001)
0.1 Kati (2023)

24 hours later:

0.1 Mek Kepah (1973)
0.1 Dokkoon (1993)
0.1 Mali (2010)
0.1 Aiyara (2022)
1.0 Roi-Yim (2022)

There’s a total of four crates - one to accomodate a mature bull; one to accomodate a cow or adolescent; and two to accomodate a mother and calf.
 
Zoofan15 said:
The arrival order will be:

1.0 Luk Chai (2009) - first/transferring alone

A few days later:

0.1 Kulab (2000)
0.1 Num-Oi (2001)
0.1 Kati (2023)

24 hours later:

0.1 Mek Kepah (1973)
0.1 Dokkoon (1993)
0.1 Mali (2010)
0.1 Aiyara (2022)
1.0 Roi-Yim (2022)

There’s a total of four crates - one to accomodate a mature bull; one to accomodate a cow or adolescent; and two to accomodate a mother and calf.
Click to expand...

Thanks so how are they going to fit 5 elephants in two crates?
 
Zoofan15 said:
The arrival order will be:

1.0 Luk Chai (2009) - first/transferring alone

A few days later:

0.1 Kulab (2000)
0.1 Num-Oi (2001)
0.1 Kati (2023)

24 hours later:

0.1 Mek Kepah (1973)
0.1 Dokkoon (1993)
0.1 Mali (2010)
0.1 Aiyara (2022)
1.0 Roi-Yim (2022)

There’s a total of four crates - one to accomodate a mature bull; one to accomodate a cow or adolescent; and two to accomodate a mother and calf.
Click to expand...

Also Aiyara is a male and Roi-Yim is a female.
 
ZCChip said:
Thanks so how are they going to fit 5 elephants in two crates?
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Jambo said:
They have two crates specifically designed to accommodate a mother and calf.

The other adult female will be moved in the other single cow crate.
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Luk Chai will go alone in the bull crate, which will then stay at Werribee.

Kulab will go in the cow/adolescent crate; and Num-Oi and Kati will go in the mother/calf crate - with both crates returning to Melbourne that day.

Mek Kepah will go in the cow/adolescent crate; and Dokkoon/Aiyara and Mali/Roi-Yim will go in the mother/calf crates - which will then remain at Werribee.
ZCChip said:
Also Aiyara is a male and Roi-Yim is a female.
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Nope. Other way around.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Kulab will go in the cow/adolescent crate; and Num-Oi and Kati will go in the mother/calf crate - with both crates returning to Melbourne that day.

Mek Kepah will go in the cow/adolescent crate; and Dokkoon/Aiyara and Mali/Roi-Yim will go in the mother/calf crates - which will then remain at Werribee.
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Wasn't the intention for Mek Kapah and co to go first? Or has this changed.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Luk Chai will go alone in the bull crate, which will then stay at Werribee.

Kulab will go in the cow/adolescent crate; and Num-Oi and Kati will go in the mother/calf crate - with both crates returning to Melbourne that day.

Mek Kepah will go in the cow/adolescent crate; and Dokkoon/Aiyara and Mali/Roi-Yim will go in the mother/calf crates - which will then remain at Werribee.

Nope. Other way around.
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Thank you. I have the wrong information then. I appreciate the correction. It sounds like a good plan then.
 
Jambo said:
Wasn't the intention for Mek Kapah and co to go first? Or has this changed.
Click to expand...

No, it’s been this order since at least November 2024:

1.0 Luk Chai (2009) - first/transferring alone

A few days later:

0.1 Kulab (2000)
0.1 Num-Oi (2001)
0.1 Kati (2023)

24 hours later:

0.1 Mek Kepah (1973)
0.1 Dokkoon (1993)
0.1 Mali (2010)
0.1 Aiyara (2022)
1.0 Roi-Yim (2022)
 
Zoofan15 said:
No, it’s been this order since at least November 2024:

1.0 Luk Chai (2009) - first/transferring alone

A few days later:

0.1 Kulab (2000)
0.1 Num-Oi (2001)
0.1 Kati (2023)

24 hours later:

0.1 Mek Kepah (1973)
0.1 Dokkoon (1993)
0.1 Mali (2010)
0.1 Aiyara (2022)
1.0 Roi-Yim (2022)
Click to expand...
I'd been told differently but perhaps it was outdated information!
 
Jambo said:
I'd been told differently but perhaps it was outdated information!
Click to expand...

My information came from the presentation on the elephant complex by Zoos Victoria staff in November 2024. It may have changed since then, but it makes sense to work up incrementally rather than attempt the biggest move (five elephants).

I personally would have thought Mek Kepah would have gone first (as matriarch); but there’s been talk Kulab may emerge as the new matriarch once at Werribee, so this will be interesting - not that a day’s difference alone would precipitate this change.
 
Zoofan15 said:
My information came from the presentation on the elephant complex by Zoos Victoria staff in November 2024. It may have changed since then, but it makes sense to work up incrementally rather than attempt the biggest move (five elephants).

I personally would have thought Mek Kepah would have gone first (as matriarch); but there’s been talk Kulab may emerge as the new matriarch once at Werribee, so this will be interesting - not that a day’s difference alone would precipitate this change.
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I was told Mek Kapah would be moved first for precisely that reason. You would think it would be important she was there first to reassure the other elephants upon arrival and guide the herd through settling in. Moving the other three first wouldn't allow this.

It's entirely possible they've decided Kulab should be able to step up in the meantime. Her and Num Oi are a closely bonded pair so I don't foresee any issues there without the presence of the other elephants.
 
Jambo said:
I was told Mek Kapah would be moved first for precisely that reason. You would think it would be important she was there first to reassure the other elephants upon arrival and guide the herd through settling in. Moving the other three first wouldn't allow this.

It's entirely possible they've decided Kulab should be able to step up in the meantime. Her and Num Oi are a closely bonded pair so I don't foresee any issues there without the presence of the other elephants.
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I hope they film each move from Melbounre to Werribee and include this into a ZoosVictoria documentary of the move :)
 
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Tigergal said:
Elephant move

I’m currently at Melbourne Zoo, they’ve confirmed that Luk Chai has made the move to Werribee while everyone else is still waiting - as per the initial plan posted here
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Fantastic news!

Luk Chai was Australia’s first elephant calf; then he was the sire of the region’s first second generation elephant calf; now he’s Werribee Open Range Zoo’s first elephant!

Here’s hoping he settles in well; as do the others to follow.
 
Very exciting to hear. Werribee's first elephant arrived this morning!

Will also be able to confirm when the females are heading down, but it'll likely be early next week with the keepers focusing their attention on assisting Luk Chai on settling in this weekend.

Very exciting news however; I anticipate they may all go on display next weekend too! From what I was told last week there's still a bit of work towards completing the visitor areas but a fortnight should have been enough to complete what was necessary prior to the opening.
 
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