Burma was born at a logging camp in Myanmar in 1982 and arrived at Auckland Zoo in 1990; Anjalee was born at an elephant orphanage in Sri Lanka in 2006 and came to the zoo in 2015. Anjalee has almost caught up to Burma in size.
0.1 Burma (01/01/1982) Elephas maximus indicus
0.1 Anjalee (23/08/2006) Elephas maximus maximus
@Wyman It’d be great to see hippos in this exhibit. While I think a flamingo aviary is the more likely option, Common hippopotamus is realistically one of the few species that could come close to replacing elephants and there were plans outlined for them in the 2014 masterplan (prior to the deaths of Faith and Fudge). Hippos are very much a part of Auckland Zoo’s history. They were held at the zoo for 90 years from the 1920’s to 2016, and the public would love to see them return.
@Mai Thai I asked several staff members this question on the day and got the same response each time that it hasn’t been decided yet (that’s possibly true). All they said is that they’ll be leaving Auckland Zoo in the second half of 2021. There’s two zoos in Australia that could take them - Taronga Western Plains Zoo could take them immediately; while Werribee Open Range Zoo will have an exhibit ready in late 2023. An export outside the region is also possible.
@Mai Thai Sydney Zoo would love nothing more; but Auckland Zoo would never allow it, as they’d be going into the same enivironment they’re in at Auckland Zoo. The idea of the move is to provide them with a multigenerational herd (and natural breeding opportunities for Anjalee). Auckland Zoo announces decision to move elephants | Auckland Zoo News
