Australasian Asian Elephant Population 2023

The Sleepy Hippo said:
Man Jai lost both his - broken and surgically removed. Shown on 'Mega Zoo' (?)

(Just realised you had listed him. *Facepalm* )
Click to expand...

Yes, that’s right. It did indeed feature on Mega Zoo and is detailed below (see link for video). Equally interesting at the time was the revelation Man Jai’s barn name was ‘Bob.’

Elephant undergoes risky surgery after breaking his tusks on Mega Zoo

Known as Bob, the cheeky elephant broke his tusks during rough play with his family. They were injured so far down that they won't grow back, which means nerves and blood vessels could be exposed to bacteria leaving Bob vulnerable to infections. So the tusks must come out.
 
I saw on a video online a couple of years ago of a massive custom made steel elephant transporter/crate, basically the back end of a semi trailer for moving adult bulls between zoos within the UK, From what I can remember a lot of the UK holders use this massive bit of kit between themselves. I would imagine if they start to move adult bulls between the open range holders here more often in the future something similar might be required here.
 
Zorro said:
I saw on a video online a couple of years ago of a massive custom made steel elephant transporter/crate, basically the back end of a semi trailer for moving adult bulls between zoos within the UK, From what I can remember a lot of the UK holders use this massive bit of kit between themselves. I would imagine if they start to move adult bulls between the open range holders here more often in the future something similar might be required here.
Click to expand...

It’s potentially a preferable option to AI and since Werribee will have yards that could be used purely for breeding introductions, they could well loan Putra Mas from Monarto a decade from now to mate with the cows over an eight month period (to cover two heat cycles).

Taronga have a trailer unit that they used to transfer their elephants between the main exhibit and Gung’s exhibit in the 2010’s, following the move to PC. It’s something that may be considered for the future; but as seen at Auckland and Melbourne, zoos spend months undertaking crate training with elephants to persuade them to get in the trailer. In most cases, this is in preparation for a one way trip.
 
Jambo said:
An update on Melbourne’s calves who have begun participating in new healthcare training!

Zoos Victoria on Instagram: "Despite being less than a year old, Melbourne Zoo’s trumpeting trio of Asian Elephant calves are already learning to voluntarily participate in their own healthcare. This week Roi-Yim was brave enough to leave his mum's side and step up to the scales to have his weight recorded - in exchange for a little treat of course! "
Click to expand...

An interesting note that Roi-Yim weighs 350kg at 11 months. It doesn’t seem a huge increase in weight from his birth weight of 110kg; considering Sabai weighed 101kg at birth and by three months of age had doubled to 220kg.

Luk Chai weighed 96kg at birth and by 24 months weighed 829kg, so will be interesting to see how Roi-Yim tracks over the next 12 months.
 
 
 
Zorro said:
Hopefully some nice pics will be taken when the new complex is completed! :D
Click to expand...

I’m most intrigued to see the water area at Werribee (which looked great in the concept art). Melbourne were extremely proud of their fully submersible pool when TOTE opened in 2003, but this will be something else entirely.

It’ll be similarly interesting to see how the matriarchal herd and Luk Chai are rotated through the paddocks. Considering the capacity of the complex is 40 elephants, they’ll no doubt look to filler species like Indian antelope to avoid it looking empty for the first couple of decades.
 
Zoofan15 said:
I’m most intrigued to see the water area at Werribee (which looked great in the concept art). Melbourne were extremely proud of their fully submersible pool when TOTE opened in 2003, but this will be something else entirely.

It’ll be similarly interesting to see how the matriarchal herd and Luk Chai are rotated through the paddocks. Considering the capacity of the complex is 40 elephants, they’ll no doubt look to filler species like Indian antelope to avoid it looking empty for the first couple of decades.
Click to expand...
I was told by a person in the know that the lake is going to be very large indeed! :cool:
 
Zorro said:
I was told by a person in the know that the lake is going to be very large indeed! :cool:
Click to expand...

That’s good to know. Melbourne Zoo waited until August 2023 before allowing the calves access to the submersible pool, which isn’t that long in the whole scheme of things (8-10 months of age). Certainly by the time the herd transfers to Werribee, they’ll be capable of handling the lake and any future calves can be rotated through the other paddocks until they’re ready.

Keepers have reported the elephants interact more with each other following the move to PC and this complex will bring them the closest to wild living of any herd housed in an Australasian zoo.
 
Zoofan15 said:
That’s good to know. Melbourne Zoo waited until August 2023 before allowing the calves access to the submersible pool, which isn’t that long in the whole scheme of things (8-10 months of age). Certainly by the time the herd transfers to Werribee, they’ll be capable of handling the lake and any future calves can be rotated through the other paddocks until they’re ready.

Keepers have reported the elephants interact more with each other following the move to PC and this complex will bring them the closest to wild living of any herd housed in an Australasian zoo.
Click to expand...
Just a guess but I would imagine that Werribee's lake would/could be much more natural with gentle sloping sides (perhaps better for calfs) where as Melbourne's is a concrete tub with a slope on one side that I know of!
The very best water hole/lake I have seen would be the huge massive lake at the Rockton Safari park in Canada which has about 17 Asian elephants, many use the lake at the same time including adults bulls!
 
Last edited:
Zorro said:
Just a guess but I would imagine that Werribee's lake would/could be much more natural with gentle sloping sides (perhaps better for calfs) where as Melbourne's is a concrete tub with a slope on one side that I know of!
The very best water hole/lake I have seen would be the huge massive lake at the Rockton Safari park in Canada which has about 17 Asian elephants, many use the lake at the same time including adults bulls!
Click to expand...

That’s a good point. There’s more space at Werribee to create an incremental depth pool versus Melbourne, which had to be more space efficient. Not to mention designs for TOTE would have first been drawn up circa 2000 when the zoo had two prime aged elephants.

Even if there was early plans for the Thai imports, no zoo in the region had bred an elephant calf; and so in that regard, I think the success of the breeding programme took everyone by surprise. And in any case, the cow paddock caters well for calves.

upload_2023-11-4_7-30-16.jpeg
Photo credit: Melbourne Zoo
 

Attachments

  • upload_2023-11-4_7-30-16.jpeg
    upload_2023-11-4_7-30-16.jpeg
    60.9 KB · Views: 101
I am hoping that Zoos Victoria will make a doco about the completed elephant exhibit/complex for TV. Also of the moving of the herd and release into the new exhibit, This is going to be a whole new ball game for not just this herd and with elephant breeding as a whole in Australia. It will be interesting to see future pics from our own members who are more local to it. I am excited about its future and about its possibilities.

I am equally excited to see the new and then completed elephant exhibit built at Monarto Safari park hopefully they too might consider making a doco about the complex and the moving of the elephants from the Perth zoo and Auckland Zoo also perhaps Taronga zoo if that does happen.

While I mention this relating to Monarto hopefully we also get to see some footage of the new Hippo exhibit and holding enclosures and the newly to to be completed massive Rhino facilities.
It is indeed exciting to see all these 4 major projects come forward and project our zoos into the future, I am more optimistic now than in a very long time. :)
 
Zorro said:
I am hoping that Zoos Victoria will make a doco about the completed elephant exhibit/complex for TV. Also of the moving of the herd and release into the new exhibit, This is going to be a whole new ball game for not just this herd and with elephant breeding as a whole in Australia. It will be interesting to see future pics from our own members who are more local to it. I am excited about its future and about its possibilities.

I am equally excited to see the new and then completed elephant exhibit built at Monarto Safari park hopefully they too might consider making a doco about the complex and the moving of the elephants from the Perth zoo and Auckland Zoo also perhaps Taronga zoo if that does happen.

While I mention this relating to Monarto hopefully we also get to see some footage of the new Hippo exhibit and holding enclosures and the newly to to be completed massive Rhino facilities.
It is indeed exciting to see all these 4 major projects come forward and project our zoos into the future, I am more optimistic now than in a very long time. :)
Click to expand...

Historically, Taronga and Melbourne have made some fantastic docos about high profile events and it doesn’t get more high profile than the largest transfer of elephants in the history of an Australasian zoo. I know Taronga and Zoos Victoria have Wildlife at the Zoo and Mega Zoo respectively; but dedicating one third of a show to the elephants (punctuated by something low key like a native animal rescue or a pinniped training session) doesn’t cut it imo.

I expect the extent of Auckland’s coverage will be videos on their socials as per the export of Anjalee (and the trio of Bornean orangutans to the US before them); but the onus is on the receiving zoos, who will benefit from showcasing their spectacular new complexes.

I too am extremely excited for what the future holds! :)
 
Werribee complex update:

Just drove past the back of Werribee, and got a really good view of the new elephant complex construction which now seems to be in full swing. There were multiple diggers out, and the landscape has all been cleared (now looking like an orange sand plain at the moment). Didn’t get a glimpse of any barn structures as of yet, but there were large wooden poles being put up presumably for browsing.

With the above in mind, I’d imagine Werribee *may* be running a little behind with the initial projection of transferring the elephants in the winter of 2024. A transfer next spring probably seems more likely now imo.
 
Jambo said:
Werribee complex update:

Just drove past the back of Werribee, and got a really good view of the new elephant complex construction which now seems to be in full swing. There were multiple diggers out, and the landscape has all been cleared (now looking like an orange sand plain at the moment). Didn’t get a glimpse of any barn structures as of yet, but there were large wooden poles being put up presumably for browsing.

With the above in mind, I’d imagine Werribee *may* be running a little behind with the initial projection of transferring the elephants in the winter of 2024. A transfer next spring probably seems more likely now imo.
Click to expand...

That’s great to hear the Werribee complex is progressing, even if it may be running behind schedule. It wouldn’t surprise me as very few projects within the region have opened on schedule and this is without a doubt the biggest single project undertaken in the history of the region!

Especially if they can prioritise getting Luk Chai on site, that will free up the entirety of Melbourne’s paddocks for the matriarchal herd and the three calves, which could well be pushing two years of age at point of transfer.

I really hope Werribee consider acquiring Sabai from Dubbo as it will be of tremendous benefit to both elephants. Sabai has mentors at Dubbo, but neither Gung nor Pathi Harn are as placid as Luk Chai, who represents the best choice of mentor regionally. While every elephant Werribee take in is one less they can breed, it would greatly benefit Dubbo, who can proceed to breed all three of their cows in total confidence they can accomodate bull calves long term (especially combined with the apparent upcoming transfer of Pak Boon and Tang Mo to Monarto, which will also alleviate pressure on Dubbo’s facilities).
 
Elephant Import Document (2005)

I was interested to come across this document from 2005, which gives insight into the decision making process to approve the import of the eight elephants from Thailand.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (Australia) Pty Ltd and Minister for Environment and Heritage | Animal Legal & Historical Center

Some points of interest:

Dimensions of elephant exhibits:

Melbourne Zoo’s outdoor area is 4,587 m 2 . This comprises a Cow Paddock (1,820 m 2 ), a Bull Paddock (1,400 m 2 ) and a Village Paddock (1,367 m 2 ). There are also three pools and two barns. Individual stalls in the barns are 7m x 7m.

Taronga Zoo’s outdoor area is approximately 2,082 m 2 . This excludes a pool and moat of 418 m 2 , a barn of approximately 490 m 2 and a separate yard of 80 m 2 . There are four stalls in the barns which are also 7m x 7m.

Elephant’s pre-import names:

Pornthip
Pukboong
Tongdee
Tangmo
Koong (also known as Gung)

Dokkoon (also known as Chaba)
Kulab
Num-oi

Recomemend space requirements:

It is recommended that a "minimum area of 2,000 m 2 for outdoor enclosure(s) is required to accommodate groups of up to eight elephants". A further 250 m 2 is said to be necessary for additional elephants two years old or more. The Guidelines note that "in Victoria, minimum recommended enclosure size for up to two adult elephants is 900 m 2 ".

Application dates:

Melbourne Zoo made application to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage on 2 March 2004 for a permit to import three Asian elephants. Taronga Zoo made a similar application to import four female Asian elephants on 16 June 2004.
Auckland Zoo’s cancellation:

Auckland Zoo in New Zealand was originally involved with the proposed importations. An additional female and Koong were to be imported into Australia and exported to New Zealand. In about May 2005 Auckland Zoo, while remaining committed to the ARAZPA program, decided no longer to receive the two elephants. The female, which did not fit in well with the other elephants and had proved difficult to handle in Thailand, was dropped from the proposal and Taronga Zoo took up the proposal to import Koong. The Taronga Zoo application accordingly increased from four to five elephants.

Social bonds:

Another issue raised by the applicants is the fact that none of the elephants are related. As the ARAZPA Guidelines recognise, the social grouping of elephants surrounds a mother and her offspring. That will not be present in either of the groups in Melbourne or Taronga Zoos. However, the elephants have begun to form social bonds having been kept together for the last year. In the case of Melbourne Zoo the matriarch is intended to be Mek Kepah, the older female elephant who is already there. In the case of Taronga Zoo it is intended to be Pornthip the oldest elephant in the group.
 
Article on Auckland’s Elephants

This article is primarily about the export of Burma and Anjalee to Australia, but includes some interesting accounts of the personalities of Auckland’s elephants and their relationship with each other:

Metro — ANJALEE & BURMA, the last of Auckland’s elephants.

Burma has been an Aucklander since arriving from a Myanmar logging camp in 1990 — the same year East and West Germany were unified, the year the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act was signed into law. Her 30 years in Auckland have seen her mature from the skittish young thing Coers first remembers: an animal full of insecurities, quick to worry, who would flinch — Coers drops his shoulders in imitation — when a bird flew by too close. Now Burma is much more considered, “much more conscious around the decisions that she makes. She’s eager to please, calm and forgiving, fastidiously clean.”

Laurel Sandy, 41, another of her handlers, describes her time with Burma as “quite a journey. We’ve probably grown up quite a lot together.” She began when Kashin was still in residence and Burma — then overshadowed by the people-pleasing older elephant — shied away from the socialising that came naturally to her companion. With Kashin’s death, “she had to learn to cope differently and grow up a lot”. And with Anjalee’s arrival, Burma “changed again … suddenly becoming the dominant animal, taking on this role of being the dominant animal and trying to be serious, which she just hadn’t had to do before”.

The relationship between the two elephants — Burma hardly acknowledged the interloper when Anjalee first arrived — has strengthened over the years: at times during Anjalee’s menstrual cycle, Burma will refuse to leave the younger elephant’s side, and they come together when something worries them, like a helicopter buzzing overhead. But they are also happy to spend time alone, and often do. Neither animal has ever needed the other the way Burma did Kashin, and their impending separation, Sandy says, is just a recognition of “who they are as individuals and what they need as individuals”.

See full article for more.
 
Osedax said:
According to this website, Captive born elephants at University of Newcastle in Australia - Elephant Encyclopedia and Database, the University of Newcastle has a 5-year old bull elephant -

1.0 Mauk (02/04/2018) Mekong X Mingular Oo

This I highly doubt. Does anyone else know anything about it?
Click to expand...

Well, this is extraordinarily random. It appears that the parents were both at Emmen Zoo. I also highly doubt it (why would Newcastle Uni want or need a subadult bull elephant, imported solitary from overseas?), but will look into it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top