Australian Asian Elephant Population 2025

[Zoofan15]

@Zoofan15 I wrote to the director of the Melbourne zoo long before the current and now former exhibit was built about the then size of the elephant yard/exhibit, he replied that they were in fact enlarging the then yard to a larger size but I don't know how small the exhibit was before that!

Melbourne’s elephant house (and presumably the exhibit) were built in 1944, so I imagine it was very cramped prior to the extension. Auckland Zoo had an elephant house and small adjoining yard; and Wellington Zoo merely had an elephant house, so Melbourne’s original set up was probably somewhere between that and Taronga’s antiquated (but comparatively large) exhibit in size (with Taronga’s also extended in the 1980’s).

Auckland’s elephant were walked across to elephant pool once a day and enjoyed walks around the zoo (as did Wellington’s), so that compensated for such cramped confident to a degree - though exhibits like Melbourne’s (2003-2025) and Auckland’s (1992-2024) were a welcome progression; and Werribee and Monarto’s complexes even more so.

 

[Johnpaul21]

Following on messages earlier, They were going to have to cut down Putra Mas' tusks down no matter what for his transport it's just they did it earlier than needed because during musth last year he charged a rock in his exhibit and broke one of them off, so they just cut the other one down to level it and they've just kept it that way.... Not sure how fast elephants tusks grow but they regularly cut them down (see the the photo's linked below) and they seem to be cut every 1-2 months I guess

 

[Jambo]

@Zoofan15 I wrote to the director of the Melbourne zoo long before the current and now former exhibit was built about the then size of the elephant yard/exhibit, he replied that they were in fact enlarging the then yard to a larger size but I don't know how small the exhibit was before that!

I believe Melbourne did indeed end up enlarging the complex to combine the two spaces the elephants had. One was the main exhibit (with the pool), and the other a much smaller habitat next door for the elephant calves.

It wasn't a large expansion though by any means. The smaller habitat would've likely been less than a quarter of the size of the whole exhibit.

 

[Zoofan15]

Article on Elephant Phase Outs/Move to Open Range Zoos

‘Life that they deserve’: why Australia’s elephants are moving out of city zoos

Points of interest:

On the significance of the progression of Australasia keeping elephants in open range zoos:

“We’re the only region in the world where all of our elephants are housed in situations where females have opportunities for social contact with at least two other females,” says Amanda Embury, species coordinator for the Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia. This is a huge milestone.”

On Monarto’s elephant’s level of confidence:

Each animal is different, he says. Shortly after Pak Boon arrived from Taronga, she walked straight into the first waterhole, he says, “and dragged her mate Tang Mo in with her”, while the others “were still tippy-toeing at that particular pool”.

On bulls social behaviour:

Males need much larger spaces in which to roam, and the chance to interact with other males and family groups. “Bulls often get a really short shrift in captive facilities,” she says.

On Werribee’s facility (opportunities for natural behaviour):

Keepers have been allowing them to settle in slowly – introducing them in stages to their new digs, which include an elephant barn, areas of pasture and trees for grazing and deep pools for swimming.

Grazing is a new activity and natural behaviour that wasn’t available in the city.

 

[Jambo]

Each animal is different, he says. Shortly after Pak Boon arrived from Taronga, she walked straight into the first waterhole, he says, “and dragged her mate Tang Mo in with her”, while the others “were still tippy-toeing at that particular pool”.

No surprises here - Pak Boon is a big water baby. I've seen keepers mention this countless times during keeper talks/social media videos ect. Her eldest daughter, Tukta, took after her in this aspect.

“We’re the only region in the world where all of our elephants are housed in situations where females have opportunities for social contact with at least two other females,” says Amanda Embury, species coordinator for the Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia. This is a huge milestone.”

This positive obviously comes with now all elephants (bar Putra Mas who's soon to be transferred), now being at all three open range facilities (plus Australia's Sumatran girls).

Werribee have a large matriarchal herd currently numbering eight, Dubbo's is four (soon to be five) and Monarto's has the potential to be four if introductions continue to progress well.

Males need much larger spaces in which to roam, and the chance to interact with other males and family groups. “Bulls often get a really short shrift in captive facilities,” she says.

This too is a very interesting point - and is a necessary part of a bulls social development. In most city environments, due to being short on space, bulls are usually only introduced for breeding purposes. But in open range environments, bulls will hopefully have the opportunity to mix in with the cows as they wish (as has been the case at times at Dubbo).

 

[Zoofan15]

This too is a very interesting point - and is a necessary part of a bulls social development. In most city environments, due to being short on space, bulls are usually only introduced for breeding purposes. But in open range environments, bulls will hopefully have the opportunity to mix in with the cows as they wish (as has been the case at times at Dubbo).

Historically, most zoos managed bulls in protected contact, which made it easier all round to keep them seperate from the cows (which many zoos managed in free contact).

It’s great to see the evolution of elephant husbandry in the region, especially following the birth of the first calf at Taronga in 2009. From a young age, Luk Chai had the opportunity to meet his sire and observe him mounting females. The result has been a well socialised young bull who not only successfully mated all three cows presented to him (on the first cycle), but enjoys social interactions with both the cows and his own offspring.

 

[Hyak_II]

In most city environments, due to being short on space, bulls are usually only introduced for breeding purposes. But in open range environments, bulls will hopefully have the opportunity to mix in with the cows as they wish (as has been the case at times at Dubbo).

This is...entirely incorrect. At this point, the MAJORITY of bulls, if they are of a social nature, are routinely housed with the cow group in city zoos across both Europe and North America, for purely social reasons. Off the top of my head, the only Asian facility that doesn't regularly exhibit their bulls with their cows/calves in North America is Fort Worth, and the vast majority of European facilities have their bulls in adequate social situations regularly, often daily. There are some glaring exceptions to this (Hamburg, Prague, Pairi Daiza, etc), but exceptions are FAR fewer than one would expect.

 

[Jambo]

This is...entirely incorrect. At this point, the MAJORITY of bulls, if they are of a social nature, are routinely housed with the cow group in city zoos across both Europe and North America, for purely social reasons. Off the top of my head, the only Asian facility that doesn't regularly exhibit their bulls with their cows/calves in North America is Fort Worth, and the vast majority of European facilities have their bulls in adequate social situations regularly, often daily. There are some glaring exceptions to this (Hamburg, Prague, Pairi Daiza, etc), but exceptions are FAR fewer than one would expect.

Yes that is quite true - I was more so referring to the Australasian region specifically.

 

[Tiger91]

This is...entirely incorrect. At this point, the MAJORITY of bulls, if they are of a social nature, are routinely housed with the cow group in city zoos across both Europe and North America, for purely social reasons. Off the top of my head, the only Asian facility that doesn't regularly exhibit their bulls with their cows/calves in North America is Fort Worth, and the vast majority of European facilities have their bulls in adequate social situations regularly, often daily. There are some glaring exceptions to this (Hamburg, Prague, Pairi Daiza, etc), but exceptions are FAR fewer than one would expect.

You have to remember when it comes to some aspects of elephant handling Australian zoos are a few decades behind.
Especially with how Europe keeps and manages there herds compared to Australia. Europe and North America have also been breeding elephants for many many more decades then we have. I would love to see some of the aspects of how we keep them caught up. Not only for the advantages on an individual level. But also space wise.

 

[Jambo]

I would love to see some of the aspects of how we keep them caught up. Not only for the advantages on an individual level. But also space wise.

Take a look at Werribee's new complex and their herd - wowee!

Seeing it first hand was absolutely phenomenal, and it certainly exceeds anything I've ever seen both space wise and husbandry wise.

 

[Jambo]

Werribee - Luk Chai has been re-united with the herd!

From members newsletter:

Bull elephant Luk Chai had a jaw-dropping reunion with the female herd and their calves in their new home. The 15-year-old bull was welcomed by matriarch Mek Kepah and adult females Mali, Kulab and Dokkoon with vocalisations so powerful they echoed across the 21-hectare savannah. Keeper Christie said she even heard sounds she’d never heard from the elephants before!

While Zoos Victoria carefully manages these interactions to ensure the wellbeing of all elephants, these social sessions are crucial for the calves to learn life skills and get used to being around a big bull, especially under the watchful eyes of the older females. All nine elephants spent an hour together, including calf Kati, meeting Luk Chai for the very first time. These sessions were previously on pause at Melbourne Zoo while the elephants crate trained for their move but are now set to continue regularly at Werribee.

Luk Chai was also in with the herd yesterday for the morning and seemed to love socialising with everyone. Both Kulab and Dokkoon seem to have soft spots for him - and he spent a lot of time interacting with his calves too, including stealing their food much to their dislike.

 

[ZCChip]

Werribee - Luk Chai has been re-united with the herd!

From members newsletter:

Bull elephant Luk Chai had a jaw-dropping reunion with the female herd and their calves in their new home. The 15-year-old bull was welcomed by matriarch Mek Kepah and adult females Mali, Kulab and Dokkoon with vocalisations so powerful they echoed across the 21-hectare savannah. Keeper Christie said she even heard sounds she’d never heard from the elephants before!

While Zoos Victoria carefully manages these interactions to ensure the wellbeing of all elephants, these social sessions are crucial for the calves to learn life skills and get used to being around a big bull, especially under the watchful eyes of the older females. All nine elephants spent an hour together, including calf Kati, meeting Luk Chai for the very first time. These sessions were previously on pause at Melbourne Zoo while the elephants crate trained for their move but are now set to continue regularly at Werribee.

Luk Chai was also in with the herd yesterday for the morning and seemed to love socialising with everyone. Both Kulab and Dokkoon seem to have soft spots for him - and he spent a lot of time interacting with his calves too, including stealing their food much to their dislike.

That sounds wonderful. I wish they had videod that to share with the world (like us in USA!).

 

[Zoofan15]

That sounds wonderful. I wish they had videod that to share with the world (like us in USA!).

It’ll no doubt be shared on socials within the next couple of weeks. Zoos Victoria have done a great job so far at sharing developments in their herd and their transition to living in the Werribee complex has been no exception.

Luk Chai will still have his own paddock as his primary residence, but we can expect to see contact sessions with the main herd continue, with him eventually siring another cohort of calves to Dokkoon, Num-Oi and Mali.

 

[ZCChip]

Luk Chai will still have his own paddock as his primary residence, but we can expect to see contact sessions with the main herd continue, with him eventually siring another cohort of calves to Dokkoon, Num-Oi and Mali.

It is good for bulls to have some social time.

 

[Zoofan15]

It is good for bulls to have some social time.

It’s enriching for all involved! Luk Chai otherwise lives alone, so like you say, he gets some social time. The cows find it exciting having a bull come into the herd; and the calves are learning countless lessons in socialisation via assimilation and direct observation.

Apparently young bulls observe adult bulls mounting cows and then practice on their female peers, so it’s good experience for Roi-Yim should he ever breed (and the two female calves in how to stand for a bull). Luk Chai learnt these skills no doubt via observing Gung mating with Taronga’s cows.

 

[Jambo]

Luk Chai will still have his own paddock as his primary residence, but we can expect to see contact sessions with the main herd continue, with him eventually siring another cohort of calves to Dokkoon, Num-Oi and Mali.

He occasionally rotates into the fidget spinner paddock too. He was there yesterday when I visited after his morning visit to the girls and calves.

Chatting to a keeper - they do plan to continue his visits to the herd on a regular basis. It's very enriching for both him and the herd; especially the calves who are now at an age where they're robust enough to actually begin physically interacting with him.

 

[Zorro]

Werribee - Luk Chai has been re-united with the herd!

From members newsletter:

Bull elephant Luk Chai had a jaw-dropping reunion with the female herd and their calves in their new home. The 15-year-old bull was welcomed by matriarch Mek Kepah and adult females Mali, Kulab and Dokkoon with vocalisations so powerful they echoed across the 21-hectare savannah. Keeper Christie said she even heard sounds she’d never heard from the elephants before!

While Zoos Victoria carefully manages these interactions to ensure the wellbeing of all elephants, these social sessions are crucial for the calves to learn life skills and get used to being around a big bull, especially under the watchful eyes of the older females. All nine elephants spent an hour together, including calf Kati, meeting Luk Chai for the very first time. These sessions were previously on pause at Melbourne Zoo while the elephants crate trained for their move but are now set to continue regularly at Werribee.

Luk Chai was also in with the herd yesterday for the morning and seemed to love socialising with everyone. Both Kulab and Dokkoon seem to have soft spots for him - and he spent a lot of time interacting with his calves too, including stealing their food much to their dislike.

Fantastic news the Werribee team seem to do everything right!

 

[Zoofan15]

Fantastic news the Werribee team seem to do everything right!

I’m really impressed with their long term planning, including succession planning every 5-10 years that will see the growth of the herd over the 100 year plus lifespan of this complex.

Hopefully Monarto have the opportunity to build up a multigenerational herd also, though pinning those hopes on a 33 year old cow, with no living offspring doesn’t stand them in the best stead. It frustrates me to this day they didn’t transfer over Thong Dee, who clearly has no application to the Dubbo herd.

 

[Zorro]

I’m really impressed with their long term planning, including succession planning every 5-10 years that will see the growth of the herd over the 100 year plus lifespan of this complex.

Hopefully Monarto have the opportunity to build up a multigenerational herd also, though pinning those hopes on a 33 year old cow, with no living offspring doesn’t stand them in the best stead. It frustrates me to this day they didn’t transfer over Thong Dee, who clearly has no application to the Dubbo herd.

The only thing I could think of adding to Werribee is getting some calfs from Putra Mas

 

[Zoofan15]

The only thing I could think of adding to Werribee is getting some calfs from Putra Mas

That would be good to see. There’s so many ways this could happen:

If Putra Mas sires daughters to Pak Boon, a swap of Putra Mas and Luk Chai could occur once their respective daughters are old enough to breed.

If Putra Mas sires a son to Pak Boon, he’d be a rare example of a bull calf that would probably go promptly into a breeding situation (i.e. at Werribee).

AI could be undertaken with Putra Mas and any of Werribee’s cows. Natural breeding seems to be the preference, but if Putra Mas doesn’t breed naturally, then it’s better than the alternative of not getting his genes out there.