I remember back in the late 80s or early 90s that Perth Zoo had the RAAF fly in a herd of Oryx I believe from South Australia, I wonder if they could be used to transport Perths two elephants as a training exercise they have a few transports and might be happy to oblige as a bit of PR.
Australasian Asian Elephant Population 2024
- Thread starter Zoofan15
- Start date
If they're transporting elephants by truck across Australia wouldn't they just keep to roads that go through areas that at least have people as opposed to the hellish center of the country?
I assume they'd drive on highways that aren't in the interior so that, should something go wrong, they're not stuck in the outback.
I assume they'd drive on highways that aren't in the interior so that, should something go wrong, they're not stuck in the outback.
Pretty much impossible to do travelling on road from Perth to Adelaide!
Luke899
Well-Known Member
Nah not possible, the road by the sea between Perth and Adelaide still goes through the Nullarbor plain.
There’s really one out there.
An email update sent to Perth Zoo members about Permai and Putra Mas’ move to Monarto:
Their specially designed transport crates have arrived at Perth Zoo, so they can get used to them before embarking on their journey to Monarto Safari Park in South Australia.
The purpose-built travel crates were manufactured by CADDS Group’s CADDS Fabrication in Henderson and designed collaboratively with Perth Zoo staff. Being the most isolated zoo in the world, moving animals to and from Perth Zoo safely whilst providing all their creature comforts is something the Zoo team are internationally renowned for.
Moving elephants is a jumbo effort, nothing is rushed when it comes to safely preparing our precious pachyderm pair for travel – that includes crate training!
Our dedicated elephant carers have been working with the elephants every day for the past 12 months doing daily training with a temporary crate borrowed from Taronga Zoo in Sydney.
Now their own specialised crates have arrived, constructed at the perfect height, width, and length. They are literally made to measure!
The elephant team will be taking small steps each day to ensure both Permai and Putra Mas see this crate as a sanctuary – a safe space before they start their cross-country adventure.
These crates, designed specifically for their needs and comfort, will play a crucial role in their safe and stress-free transition to South Australia.
It will be bittersweet to say goodbye to the elephant pair, but the welfare of the two elephants has been the guiding principle for their move. Permai needs to be with other female elephants and Putra Mas will benefit by being in an expansive habitat with multiple females close- by.
Our elephants deserve the very best, and the new herd and habitat at Monarto Safari Park will give them just that!
Their specially designed transport crates have arrived at Perth Zoo, so they can get used to them before embarking on their journey to Monarto Safari Park in South Australia.
The purpose-built travel crates were manufactured by CADDS Group’s CADDS Fabrication in Henderson and designed collaboratively with Perth Zoo staff. Being the most isolated zoo in the world, moving animals to and from Perth Zoo safely whilst providing all their creature comforts is something the Zoo team are internationally renowned for.
Moving elephants is a jumbo effort, nothing is rushed when it comes to safely preparing our precious pachyderm pair for travel – that includes crate training!
Our dedicated elephant carers have been working with the elephants every day for the past 12 months doing daily training with a temporary crate borrowed from Taronga Zoo in Sydney.
Now their own specialised crates have arrived, constructed at the perfect height, width, and length. They are literally made to measure!
The elephant team will be taking small steps each day to ensure both Permai and Putra Mas see this crate as a sanctuary – a safe space before they start their cross-country adventure.
These crates, designed specifically for their needs and comfort, will play a crucial role in their safe and stress-free transition to South Australia.
It will be bittersweet to say goodbye to the elephant pair, but the welfare of the two elephants has been the guiding principle for their move. Permai needs to be with other female elephants and Putra Mas will benefit by being in an expansive habitat with multiple females close- by.
Our elephants deserve the very best, and the new herd and habitat at Monarto Safari Park will give them just that!
Luke899
Well-Known Member
Just heard from some zoo friends that it is now highly likely permai will travel alone to Monarto early next year.
Permai is now probable to be travelling by herself across to Monarto to be with Burma by early next year to stop her from being lonely as soon as possible. The Perth zoo apparently want her gone, and socialising as soon as physically possible to improve permai’s welfare.
Apparently I was wrong, and they are having some minor difficulty with Putra Mas. From what these guys are saying, it sounds like Putra mas may travel to Monarto late next year.
Unclear of transport method just yet.
Permai is now probable to be travelling by herself across to Monarto to be with Burma by early next year to stop her from being lonely as soon as possible. The Perth zoo apparently want her gone, and socialising as soon as physically possible to improve permai’s welfare.
Apparently I was wrong, and they are having some minor difficulty with Putra Mas. From what these guys are saying, it sounds like Putra mas may travel to Monarto late next year.
Unclear of transport method just yet.
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Interesting news, as it's not the best case situation for Perth especially having to transfer two elephants separately.
Obviously there seems to be some issues continuing with Putra Mas, as as of only a few weeks ago the plan was still to send the pair together in the middle of next year.
If for some reason they've had some problems with him, and his move has been further pushed back it does make the most sense to transfer Permai a little earlier. It's also essential she arrives prior to the Taronga cows to allow for the best chances of a successful introduction. There's no point of Permai waiting around when she has been by herself for more than two years already and is able to be transferred.
I do note back in 2000, Putra Mas was being crate trained to be sent across to the USA, but he apparently didn't take too well to this. Hopefully this isn't re-occuring!
Obviously there seems to be some issues continuing with Putra Mas, as as of only a few weeks ago the plan was still to send the pair together in the middle of next year.
If for some reason they've had some problems with him, and his move has been further pushed back it does make the most sense to transfer Permai a little earlier. It's also essential she arrives prior to the Taronga cows to allow for the best chances of a successful introduction. There's no point of Permai waiting around when she has been by herself for more than two years already and is able to be transferred.
I do note back in 2000, Putra Mas was being crate trained to be sent across to the USA, but he apparently didn't take too well to this. Hopefully this isn't re-occuring!
Luke899
Well-Known Member
Yeah this is the current situation today which I heard.
Obviously very much subject to change, if putra Mas improved he could probably go a bit earlier than late next year, however it doesn’t sound like they’re gonna wait on him to send Permai.
we can’t know for sure at this point.
Obviously very much subject to change, if putra Mas improved he could probably go a bit earlier than late next year, however it doesn’t sound like they’re gonna wait on him to send Permai.
we can’t know for sure at this point.
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
Now that it is very interesting, I wonder where he was supposed to go.
I believe it was Fort Worth from memory.
That only transfers Burma's supposed welfare [loneliness] problem to Putra Mas.
It will be interesting to see if Putra Mas will ever leave Perth. His issues 24 years ago may now have compounded during the intervening nearly quarter of a century.
Huge respect to his keepers who are trying so hard to make this happen.
Correct.
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
Thanks for confirming that with me.
@Steve Robinson
Yeah but welfare wise surely as a male Putra Mas will weather better than Permai, her being without Tricia's companionship for over two years now. Do realise that with Putra Mas some degree of contact with Permai (and until their deaths Tricia & Teduh) even if just visual contact would have benefited him all the years since he moved from living with them to his own exhibit.
Really do think on an overall welfare scale that for Permai and Burma to meet one another at Monarto asap and fingers crossed form a bond seems to be likely the best trajectory for the both of them based on the importance of female eles' social grouping natures, and would be less of a significant issue for Putra Mas to live without the contact at all, not the best outcome of course, but comparitevly speaking. Lets hope his crate training does work although the compounded issues 24 years later like you said could stop that, hopefully not.
Yeah but welfare wise surely as a male Putra Mas will weather better than Permai, her being without Tricia's companionship for over two years now. Do realise that with Putra Mas some degree of contact with Permai (and until their deaths Tricia & Teduh) even if just visual contact would have benefited him all the years since he moved from living with them to his own exhibit.
Really do think on an overall welfare scale that for Permai and Burma to meet one another at Monarto asap and fingers crossed form a bond seems to be likely the best trajectory for the both of them based on the importance of female eles' social grouping natures, and would be less of a significant issue for Putra Mas to live without the contact at all, not the best outcome of course, but comparitevly speaking. Lets hope his crate training does work although the compounded issues 24 years later like you said could stop that, hopefully not.
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@steveroberts
At the end of the day we are all just bystanders.
My 2 cents worth is just that - mine.
I don't doubt that the keepers, and management, at Perth have considered all scenarios and will prioritise the ones most likely of success.
These were always going to be potentially tricky introductions and all of us who are elephant fans will just have to keep our fingers firmly crossed for the best possible outcome. That may not be what we think should happen.
@Steve Robinson
Yeah absolutely and appreciate your opinion on.
Just was doing the chucking in my 2 cents too, you would know a lot more about eles' then I would anyway with your life work. Me personally its just from reading/tiny bit of research (actually majority of knowledge from on here).
Its gonna be interesting to see how this all goes hey and yeah absolutely with a lot of tricky introductions between the four females hey. Without a doubt I also really want Putra Mas to be able to make the trip to live at Monarto too for his sake. If he can make the journey at same time as Permai would be the most optimal thing but obviously theres many factors his keepers know and whatever happens of course if what they and zoo management think is for the best.
ZooFan15 has some updates from Taronga about Pak Boon & Tang Mo he will share with us when he's back online too.
Yeah absolutely and appreciate your opinion on.
Just was doing the chucking in my 2 cents too, you would know a lot more about eles' then I would anyway with your life work. Me personally its just from reading/tiny bit of research (actually majority of knowledge from on here).
Its gonna be interesting to see how this all goes hey and yeah absolutely with a lot of tricky introductions between the four females hey. Without a doubt I also really want Putra Mas to be able to make the trip to live at Monarto too for his sake. If he can make the journey at same time as Permai would be the most optimal thing but obviously theres many factors his keepers know and whatever happens of course if what they and zoo management think is for the best.
ZooFan15 has some updates from Taronga about Pak Boon & Tang Mo he will share with us when he's back online too.
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If he refuses to enter the crate there really isn't much staff can do which is a shame.
All we can really do is hope for the best and pray the extra time he is being given will eventually result in a change in his attitude towards crate training, but at the end of the day it comes down to Putra Mas.
Sending Permai earlier following these delays is the best decision. Even if it will make things more tricky overall, it goes to show how much consideration they're putting into this whole thing and each individuals welfare.
Certainly credit to Perth's keepers who are doing the best they can around the parameters they have and issues they're experiencing.
This article seems to confirm just this https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/thedetail/534477/saying-goodbye-to-new-zealand-s-last-elephant
"The next elephant to arrive will be Permai, from Perth, then two more will arrive from Taronga Zoo in Sydney. Later a male elephant, again from Perth, will join the herd as well."
I still have a photo of the traveling crate in his enclosure which was taken back in 2000 as I had mentioned at the time the head elephant keeper said they were having real problems with getting into the crate. Also remember he would have been smaller back then with less bulk. At least this caused him to be retained within the country instead of being exported. Perhaps the only real chance they have is some kind of light sedation and possibly a trip by truck might be the safest option!