Monarto Safari Park Monarto Safari Park News 2025

[Jambo]

With this in mind, it wouldn’t surprise me if Putra Mas’ best relationship is with Pak Boon. She’s the only cow in the herd who is a (twice) proven natural breeder and both she and Tang Mo are the most well socialised in regards to bulls.

It will also be intriguing to see Burma's reaction to a bull, she hasn't seen one for at least 35 years, and the last time she would remember one was from when she was a juvenile at the logging camp she was initially at prior to her transfer to Auckland. There's no guarantees she'd even remember anything from back then (or perhaps very little), so having a bull on site will certainly be a novelty for her.

Knowing Burma though, I do think she'd be quite interested in Putra Mas, and I can actually see her end up being the most fascinated with him. Will be interesting to see how that goes; Monarto hopefully intend to socialise Putra Mas with all the cows (not just Pak Boon/Tang Mo).

 

[ZCChip]

Area 4 is the bull yard, which will be used to isolate Putra Mas while in musth for three months of the year (Dubbo have the same capacity).

I assume there’s a connecting raceway between the elephant houses/adjoining yards; but there would at a minimum be a gate as the intention is to regularly mix him with the cows.

It was reported Burma had been spending time in Area 4 prior to Putra Mas’ arrival, so they can clearly transfer them between this and the other areas effectively. I imagine the cows will visit Putra Mas in Area 4; and he’ll also be able to visit them in the other paddocks (assuming all are fenced to bull containment standards).
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Thanks.

So the plan will be building the new barn and remove the pathway so he can connect to the barn while in musth?

And I assume the old barn will be going to the rhinos?

 

[Jambo]

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Thanks.

So the plan will be building the new barn and remove the pathway so he can connect to the barn while in musth?

And I assume the old barn will be going to the rhinos?

No, there are two barns (one for the cows and one for Putra Mas).

The cows are in the 'existing' barn labelled on the map, and Putra Mas will be going into the 'future' barn as labelled on the map. The map is from earlier this year when the bull barn was not complete.

As for in between the two barns, I believe there is indeed a raceway - that connects to the small outdoor yard adjacent to the cow barn.

 

[Zoofan15]

It will also be intriguing to see Burma's reaction to a bull, she hasn't seen one for at least 35 years, and the last time she would remember one was from when she was a juvenile at the logging camp she was initially at prior to her transfer to Auckland. There's no guarantees she'd even remember anything from back then (or perhaps very little), so having a bull on site will certainly be a novelty for her.

Knowing Burma though, I do think she'd be quite interested in Putra Mas, and I can actually see her end up being the most fascinated with him. Will be interesting to see how that goes; Monarto hopefully intend to socialise Putra Mas with all the cows (not just Pak Boon/Tang Mo).

It’d be interesting to know more of Burma’s background at the logging camp, including the number of elephants the logging camp held and the demographics. I agree her experience with bulls would be limited and while she was presumably cycling by eight years of age, the extent of her experience may have been similar to the interactions juveniles have with their sires in Australian zoos.

Thinking ahead to the future, the potential birth of a calf to Pak Boon would be a novelty to all other elephants in the herd bar Tang Mo. While then adolescent aunties such as Tang Mo and Num-Oi doted on calves born in the Taronga/Melbourne herds, it’s easy to see the senior Burma and Permai taking more of a backseat as Mek Kepah has with the latest cohort at Melbourne/Werribee.

 

[ZCChip]

No, there are two barns (one for the cows and one for Putra Mas).

The cows are in the 'existing' barn labelled on the map, and Putra Mas will be going into the 'future' barn as labelled on the map. The map is from earlier this year when the bull barn was not complete.

As for in between the two barns, I believe there is indeed a raceway - that connects to the small outdoor yard adjacent to the cow barn.

Thanks. I am trying to visualize the whole lay out. Maybe someone will have a drone fly and show us the whole thing at some point! It looks very well thoughtfully laid out.

 

[Zoofan15]

\
Thanks.

So the plan will be building the new barn and remove the pathway so he can connect to the barn while in musth?

And I assume the old barn will be going to the rhinos?

No, there are two barns (one for the cows and one for Putra Mas).

The cows are in the 'existing' barn labelled on the map, and Putra Mas will be going into the 'future' barn as labelled on the map. The map is from earlier this year when the bull barn was not complete.

As for in between the two barns, I believe there is indeed a raceway - that connects to the small outdoor yard adjacent to the cow barn.

The Black rhinoceros already have barn facilities that previously held two bulls separately from one another.

As indicated on the map, the plan is to have a second rhinoceros paddock built to the south, which in the future will be used to manage the breeding of this species. I understand this will presumably include a second rhino stable. Long term, I hope a cow can be sent from Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

 

[ZCChip]

It is interesting to have an African animal next to an Asian animal.

 

[Zoofan15]

It is interesting to have an African animal next to an Asian animal.

Like Werribee, Monarto’s collection is African centric, so the Asian elephants are basically stand ins for their African counterparts. While labelled/acknowledged as Asian elephants in signage, I wouldn’t expect to see Asian themeing to their complex for example.

Monarto’s lodge even put out a video montage featuring African elephants to entice people to come and stay.

 

[Zorro]

Like Werribee, Monarto’s collection is African centric, so the Asian elephants are basically stand ins for their African counterparts. While labelled/acknowledged as Asian elephants in signage, I wouldn’t expect to see Asian themeing to their complex for example.

Monarto’s lodge even put out a video montage featuring African elephants to entice people to come and stay.

Perhaps a bit like Bindis Island at Australia zoo just fit in anything at hand and its United Nations centric

 

[ZCChip]

Zoo Atlanta was the same way in the 1980s. There was Willy B the gorilla and an orguantan around the corner in the primates house (very, very outdated). And with the asian elephant there were zebras next door.

 

[Zoofan15]

Perhaps a bit like Bindis Island at Australia zoo just fit in anything at hand and its United Nations centric

Zoo Atlanta was the same way in the 1980s. There was Willy B the gorilla and an orguantan around the corner in the primates house (very, very outdated). And with the asian elephant there were zebras next door.

It’s particularly illogical for Asian elephants to function as stand in’s for their African counterparts when you consider the sheer size of the complex. If 4-5 stand alone exhibits from a shared geographic zone can make up a precinct at a city zoo; then when not 4-5 large paddocks at an open range zoo. The elephant habitats at Monarto and Werribee are precincts in themselves (and in both cases, larger than their sister zoos!)

Werribee plans to introduce Indian antelope to their elephant complex, so it’ll be interesting to see if Monarto undertake something like this down the line.

 

[That Aussie Guy]

Werribee plans to introduce Indian antelope to their elephant complex, so it’ll be interesting to see if Monarto undertake something like this down the line.

I would like to see a nearby paddock(s) built for their Mesopotamian Fallow Deer, perhaps with Blackbuck too (either mixed or just nearby), both to bring both species back on display, and to roughly geographically organise some of the Asian ungulate species in the vicinity of each other.

 

[Zorro]

I would like to see a nearby paddock(s) built for their Mesopotamian Fallow Deer, perhaps with Blackbuck too (either mixed or just nearby), both to bring both species back on display, and to roughly geographically organise some of the Asian ungulate species in the vicinity of each other.

They would fit in well in a Indian rhino exhibit right next to the elephants

 

[Zoofan15]

They would fit in well in a Indian rhino exhibit right next to the elephants

It would be great to see a second Australian zoo hold three species of rhinoceros, not to mention beneficial to the region as a whole to have a second breeding pair.

I’m hopeful 2026 will see Monarto Safari Park import these three Southern white rhinoceros from Europe. They could do with a new breeding bull, with one retired due to his aggression; and the other being unsuccessful at breeding with females thus far (not to mention from a well represented line internationally).

At least one of the trio is going to New Zealand (presumably Orana, who need a new breeding bull); and I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the three was a new breeding cow for Dubbo, aligning with their previous inclusion in the Australian Rhino Project.

 

[Zorro]

It would be great to see a second Australian zoo hold three species of rhinoceros, not to mention beneficial to the region as a whole to have a second breeding pair.

I’m hopeful 2026 will see Monarto Safari Park import these three Southern white rhinoceros from Europe. They could do with a new breeding bull, with one retired due to his aggression; and the other being unsuccessful at breeding with females thus far (not to mention from a well represented line internationally).

At least one of the trio is going to New Zealand (presumably Orana, who need a new breeding bull); and I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the three was a new breeding cow for Dubbo.

Yes it certainly would but it's likely that the "gate keepers" for them would be unlikely to allow this to happen!
More rhinos would be a big plus breeding wise for the zoo and if a bull hippo arrives its going to kick off Monarto zoo in a big way

 

[Zoofan15]

Yes it certainly would but it's likely that the "gate keepers" for them would allow this to happen!
More rhinos would be a big plus breeding wise for the zoo and if a bull hippo arrives its going to kick off Monarto zoo in a big way

I’m really excited to see what the future holds for Monarto Safari Park’s Common hippopotamus population.

First of all, it’ll be interesting to see whether Werribee Open Range Zoo succeed in importing two bull Common hippopotamus; and if so, whether one is sent promptly on to Monarto. The alternative is Werribee would retain both and one of the resulting bull calves would then go to Monarto (and possibly Dubbo).

Breeding at Monarto will presumably be centred around their 12 year old female Pansy; though depending how soon a bull arrives on site will influence the likelihood of 35 year old Brindabella breeding too. Monarto apparently aim to hold 5-6 hippos long term, so it’d be fantastic if an integrated pod could be achieved.

 

[Zorro]

I’m really excited to see what the future holds for Monarto Safari Park’s Common hippopotamus population.

First of all, it’ll be interesting to see whether Werribee Open Range Zoo succeed in importing two bull Common hippopotamus and if so, whether one is sent promptly on to Monarto. The alternative is Werribee would retain both and one of the resulting bull calves would then go to Monarto (and possibly Dubbo).

Breeding at Monarto will presumably be centred around their 12 year old female Pansy; though depending how soon a bull arrives on site will influence the likelihood of 35 year old Brindabella breeding two. Monarto apparently aim to hold 5-6 hippos long term, so it’d be fantastic if an integrated pod could be achieved.

If Werribee does do import two bull Hippos I would be surprised if they held on to both of them, I believe Monarto zoo would be keen to get on with breeding as soon as possible, If needed the bulls could be swapped or transferred where and when needed. I would not be too surprised if breeding does happen that we could see a couple of new holders emerge if calfs are available!

 

[Zoofan15]

If Werribee does do import two bull Hippos I would be surprised if they held on to both of them, I believe Monarto zoo would be keen to get on with breeding as soon as possible, If needed the bulls could be swapped or transferred where and when needed. I would not be too surprised if breeding does happen that we could see a couple of new holders emerge if calfs are available!

I agree as thinking about it, Werribee only have the space to breed one additional generation of hippopotami (not two). Long term, the bulls could be swapped as you say; but for the next 15-20 years, each facility could take the time to breed and retain daughters from their existing females.

Female hippopotami are not subject to the fertility issues that plague elephants and rhinos following periods of non-breeding, so daughters born as soon as 2026/2027 could comfortably sit for 20 years plus if required until their grandmothers/aunts have passed on and there’s sufficient capacity for them to breed themselves.

Monarto currently have one large exhibit which would be ideal for managing an integrated pod; though they’ll need provision for the separation of mother and neonate calves until their calf is several months old. This could be easily added to the existing infrastructure however. The bull (whenever it arrives) could be held with the cow that’s not breeding, with the cows rotating as one of many possible permutations.

 

[StoppableSan]

Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park on Instagram: "Putra Mas has arrived at his forever home at Monarto Safari Park! After an incredible 2,700 km journey, around 42.5 hours on the road, Putra Mas has arrived safely to complete the founding herd of five Asian Elephants at Monarto Safari Park. The teams from Perth Zoo and Monarto Safari Park were there to greet him as he calmly stepped into the elephant barn, where he’s now resting, stretching, and starting to explore his new surroundings. A heartfelt thank you to the incredible Perth Zoo team for their outstanding care and dedication throughout his journey. With Putra Mas now home, this marks a historic moment for Zoos SA and a defining milestone for elephant care and conservation in Australia. We’ll be sharing more from his arrival soon — stay tuned for the next update!"

Some footage of Putra Mas unloading!

 

[Zorro]

After following the cows move from the zoos in Auckland,Taronga and Perth its good to see that the final peace moving Putra Mas has reached its conclusion, Its was truly a Mammoth task and undertaking with a adult bull that had a real crate problem for a long time, The team deserve a big congratulations in completing this task