Australian Asian Elephant Population 2025

Permai departing Perth Zoo shortly:

Permai will be departing Perth Zoo shortly.

The trip, which will take at least 29 hours (and that’s not including stops) could see her arrive late Tuesday at Monarto Safari Park.

Safe travels Permai!

Edit: Permai has now left the zoo - as reported by @Jaiden, who visited Perth Zoo today
 
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Monarto Safari Park News Release

Elephants at Monarto Safari Park | Meet Burma, Permai and Putra Mas

We’re excited to share that Permai has officially left Perth Zoo and is now on her way to Monarto Safari Park!

Her move marks an important milestone in our efforts to build a dynamic Asian Elephant herd right here in South Australia.

This morning, the dedicated elephant carers at Perth Zoo took Permai through her daily crate training as normal. She walked in calmly and her seatbelts were fastened like every other crate training session she’s done this year. Except this time, it was for the real thing!

Getting an elephant across the Nullarbor is an extremely complex operation. The teams at Perth Zoo and Monarto Safari Park have meticulously planned the move and have prepared for everything.

In her custom-built, insulated crate, she’s got air-conditioning, plenty of snacks, over 1000 litres of water and importantly, a live camera that enables her carers to watch her for the entire journey.

Upon arrival, Permai will be given time to settle in and adjust to her new environment. This quiet period will ensure she feels comfortable and secure before meeting Burma and exploring her new habitat.
 
shared about eight hours ago from Permai's keepers, giving her a pear during the trip. Seeing her big bucket of peanut butter too for snacks and knowing all her keepers are with her for the trip all the way, they really are all just amazing. Such a relief to know Permai and her keepers will be there very soon or maybe have arrived now at Monarto hopefully.

source: @perthzoo https://www.instagram.com/perthzoo/?hl=en

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@Zoofan15 If Monarto are to theoretically successfully breed Pak Boon, what’s a reasonable amount of babies we can expect from her?

Would also love to know how many she’s had before, and what calf sexes. It would make my day if her and Putra Mas were to have a male calf and keep his tusk genes going through to another generation.
 
Luke899 said:
@Zoofan15 If Monarto are to theoretically successfully breed Pak Boon, what’s a reasonable amount of babies we can expect from her?

Would also love to know how many she’s had before, and what calf sexes. It would make my day if her and Putra Mas were to have a male calf and keep his tusk genes going through to another generation.
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Good question!

My expectation would be three offspring at natural birth intervals. Pak Boon is 33 years old and hasn’t given birth since 2017, so I’m sure they’ll be looking to breed from her ASAP.

Hormones can affect a cow’s temperament (meaning they likely won’t be breeding from her as soon as Putra Mas arrives and the cows are still getting to know each other); but if 6-12 months on, the cows are well settled, there’s no reason to delay beyond that.

The ideal would be 1.2 calves. A minimum of one female calf is needed for succession; but two would be better and there’s no harm in three. A bull calf would be welcomed also as Putra Mas has only sired daughters to date and this would give him a male line. It’s reasonable to expect three calves would give good odds of at least one of each gender (whatever the ratio ends up); but in the unlikely event of three males, they would surely call it a day rather than risk a fourth; whereas the equally unlikely event of three female calves being born might inspire them to try for a fourth - knowing a fourth female could still be accommodated in the herd without issue (even if a male is desired).

A timeline for the calves could look like:

First calf - 2028
Second calf - 2031
Third calf - 2035

Pak Boon retires from breeding circa 43 years.

—————

Pak Boon has had 1.1 offspring previously:

0.1 Tukta (2010-2018) by Gung
1.0 Jai Dee (2017-2020) by Gung

While Putra Mas has sired 0.2 offspring:

0.1 Willow (2016-2016) by Num-Oi
0.1 Kanlaya (2018) by Porntip

By Putra Mas’ track record, the chances of a female calf appear reasonably good.
 
Updated Holdings

With Permai arriving at Monarto Safari Park this morning, these are the updated holdings:

Monarto Safari Park:

0.1 Burma (00/00/1982) Wild x Wild; Imported 1990
0.1 Permai (00/00/1989) Wild x Wild; Imported 1992

Perth Zoo:

1.0 Putra Mas (00/00/1989) Wild x Wild; Imported 1992

If Putra Mas transfers successfully in June, that will mean in the space of seven months (November 2024-June 2025), four zoos have phased out and two open range zoos have acquired the species:

Four holders phased out:

Auckland - November 2024
Melbourne - February 2025
Taronga - March 2025
Perth - June 2025 (anticipated)

Two new holders established:

Monarto - November 2024
Werribee - February 2025
 
Zoofan15 said:
Good question!

My expectation would be three offspring at natural birth intervals. Pak Boon is 33 years old and hasn’t given birth since 2017, so I’m sure they’ll be looking to breed from her ASAP.

Hormones can affect a cow’s temperament (meaning they likely won’t be breeding from her as soon as Putra Mas arrives and the cows are still getting to know each other); but if 6-12 months on, the cows are well settled, there’s no reason to delay beyond that.

The ideal would be 1.2 calves. A minimum of one female calf is needed for succession; but two would be better and there’s no harm in three. A bull calf would be welcomed also as Putra Mas has only sired daughters to date and this would give him a male line. It’s reasonable to expect three calves would give good odds of at least one of each gender (whatever the ratio ends up); but in the unlikely event of three males, they would surely call it a day rather than risk a fourth; whereas the equally unlikely event of three female calves being born might inspire them to try for a fourth - knowing a fourth female could still be accommodated in the herd without issue (even if a male is desired).

A timeline for the calves could look like:

First calf - 2028
Second calf - 2031
Third calf - 2035

Pak Boon retires from breeding circa 43 years.

—————

Pak Boon has had 1.1 offspring previously:

0.1 Tukta (2010-2018) by Gung
1.0 Jai Dee (2017-2020) by Gung

While Putra Mas has sired 0.2 offspring:

0.1 Willow (2016-2016) by Num-Oi
0.1 Kanlaya (2018) by Porntip

By Putra Mas’ track record, the chances of a female calf appear reasonably good.
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If the intention is still to breed from her, the main goal would just be to get a calf from her asap. I don't foresee them delaying it too long after her arrival. The two cows arrivals have also been pushed forward significantly which would also help limit the valuable time wasted.

If all goes well, I don't see why they wouldn't attempt to breed her with Putra Mas this spring at earliest. By that time he's also been given time to settle in too and they've hopefully gotten to know each other prior to Pak Boon cycling. Best case, she falls pregnant straight away and births in mid to late 2027. Which would be just over a decade since her last calf. Getting to eleven years is really pushing their reproductive limits, especially at her age.

In the event she does conceive and welcomes a healthy calf, I don't think there would be a rush to breed from her straight away again. Cows (if healthy) can breed into their 50's, so five ish year gaps is do able. This would obviously come down to studbook recommendations and whether they deem there to be the space to accommodate the calves regionally at that point in time. Spacing the calves out isn't too only extend their reproductive lifespan with minimal calves but to also give them time to place the calves. Female calves will remain, but males are a more difficult say. Not sure whether Monarto have the facilities to accommodate additional bulls going forward; this may also influence future breeding decisions.
 
Jambo said:
If the intention is still to breed from her, the main goal would just be to get a calf from her asap. I don't foresee them delaying it too long after her arrival. The two cows arrivals have also been pushed forward significantly which would also help limit the valuable time wasted.

If all goes well, I don't see why they wouldn't attempt to breed her with Putra Mas this spring at earliest. By that time he's also been given time to settle in too and they've hopefully gotten to know each other prior to Pak Boon cycling. Best case, she falls pregnant straight away and births in mid to late 2027. Which would be just over a decade since her last calf. Getting to eleven years is really pushing their reproductive limits, especially at her age.

In the event she does conceive and welcomes a healthy calf, I don't think there would be a rush to breed from her straight away again. Cows (if healthy) can breed into their 50's, so five ish year gaps is do able. This would obviously come down to studbook recommendations and whether they deem there to be the space to accommodate the calves regionally at that point in time. Spacing the calves out isn't too only extend their reproductive lifespan with minimal calves but to also give them time to place the calves. Female calves will remain, but males are a more difficult say. Not sure whether Monarto have the facilities to accommodate additional bulls going forward; this may also influence future breeding decisions.
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One thing to consider with Pak Boon conceiving is her place in the hierarchy. My assumption is Pak Boon will establish herself as matriarch early on in the introduction period. She’s closely bonded with Tang Mo; and both Burma and Permai spent the majority of their lives under Kashin and Tricia respectively without issue. While Burma took on the matriarch role over Anjalee by default, Pak Boon has demonstrated a strong drive to dominate.

While hormones can affect a cow’s behaviour (leading them to exhibit more dominant behaviours for example), that would be less of an issue if that cow was already established as the matriarch. I note Dubbo allowed a much longer period for Anjalee to assimilate into the herd before attempting to breed from her; which (aside from the greater priority of breeding from Pak Boon due to the birth interval since Jai Dee) would have been down to Anjalee entering the herd as a low ranking cow. Had she fallen pregnant, it may well have led to conflict/disruption during that settling in phase.

Ideally, Monarto’s matriarchal herd will remain cohesive long term (i.e. grouped as one). Even allowing for rotation of their five habitats (to avoid depletion), the Monarto complex at a minimum would allow for a second bull - managed as a transition out of the herd from the age of six/seven (ideally mentored by Putra Mas). The good news is any bull calf would be in high demand with the region as the son of two founders, who between them have only one offspring. Werribee of course would be the obvious long term destination.

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Monarto will continue to have 2 black rhino habitats to accommodate the species (long term)?

NOTA BENE: It is no secret that a second breeding facility is an absolute must ... now and well into the future and facilities like Monarto Safari Park have both the space and the ability to maintain a black rhino husbandry-breeding project long term.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Monarto will continue to have 2 black rhino habitats to accommodate the species (long term)?

NOTA BENE: It is no secret that a second breeding facility is an absolute must ... now and well into the future and facilities like Monarto Safari Park have both the space and the ability to maintain a black rhino husbandry-breeding project long term.
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I agree it actually should have been done long ago instead of putting all the eggs in one basket!
 
Further suggestion Pak Boon will be breeding at Monarto:

From Taronga’s socials:

As we prepare for the upcoming move of Taronga Zoo Sydney’s two beloved Asian Elephants, Tang Mo and Pak Boon, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the incredible history of elephants at Taronga Zoo Sydney.

Elephants have been a cherished part of Taronga’s history for over a century, starting with Jessie the Asian Elephant, who was moved to Mosman from Moore Park via barge in 1916.

Since 2006, our Asian Elephant conservation and breeding program has welcomed six precious calves, created unforgettable moments and educated millions of visitors at both Taronga Zoo Sydney and Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

While this is a bittersweet moment for our zoo community and guests, we are excited for Pak Boon and Tang Mo to join a larger herd at Monarto Safari Park, where they will play a vital role in the future of the elephant breeding program.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Further suggestion Pak Boon will be breeding at Monarto:

From Taronga’s socials:

As we prepare for the upcoming move of Taronga Zoo Sydney’s two beloved Asian Elephants, Tang Mo and Pak Boon, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the incredible history of elephants at Taronga Zoo Sydney.

Elephants have been a cherished part of Taronga’s history for over a century, starting with Jessie the Asian Elephant, who was moved to Mosman from Moore Park via barge in 1916.

Since 2006, our Asian Elephant conservation and breeding program has welcomed six precious calves, created unforgettable moments and educated millions of visitors at both Taronga Zoo Sydney and Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

While this is a bittersweet moment for our zoo community and guests, we are excited for Pak Boon and Tang Mo to join a larger herd at Monarto Safari Park, where they will play a vital role in the future of the elephant breeding program.
Click to expand...

Fantastic news, that all but confirms we’ll have a calf by 2028 if pregnancy is successful. Hopefully we’ll get three out of her, bringing the herd to 9.

Looking forward to seeing the dynamic auntie roles Burma, Tang Mo and Permai will play in the new breeding facility.
 
Luke899 said:
Fantastic news, that all but confirms we’ll have a calf by 2028 if pregnancy is successful. Hopefully we’ll get three out of her, bringing the herd to 9.


Looking forward to seeing the dynamic auntie roles Burma, Tang Mo and Permai will play in the new breeding facility.
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Perhaps having the Berlin AI term on standby when the time is right might be a wise idea just in case a natural mating does not occur!
 
:)
Luke899 said:
Fantastic news, that all but confirms we’ll have a calf by 2028 if pregnancy is successful. Hopefully we’ll get three out of her, bringing the herd to 9.

Looking forward to seeing the dynamic auntie roles Burma, Tang Mo and Permai will play in the new breeding facility.
Click to expand...

I’m also optimistic of an elephant calf by 2028. Pak Boon is a viable breeder, who has produced two calves previously, so they stand an excellent chance - even bearing in mind it’s now approaching eight years since her last calf.

The dynamics will be fascinating to observe! Anjalee proved too exuberant for Burma and was best described as the playmate she needed 25 years ago. It’s easy to see Burma and even Permai largely taking a back seat, while Tang Mo dotes on the eventual calf/calves like she did at Taronga. She’s 25 years old and still young, so will likely prove Pak Boon’s greatest asset.
Zorro said:
Perhaps having the Berlin AI term on standby when the time is right might be a wise idea just in case a natural mating does not occur!
Click to expand...

Given the expense of engaging the services of the Berlin team, it would be prudent to exhaust natural breeding as an option first. A cow cycles every four months, so allowing two cycles and then engaging the team for the third could be the best option.

There’s a happy medium to be found between spending a fortune (while not giving adequate chance for nature to take its course); and acting quickly enough to ensure Pak Boon is given the opportunity to conceive while she is still viable.
 
Zoofan15 said:
I’m also optimistic of an elephant calf by 2028. Pak Boon is a viable breeder, who has produced two calves previously, so they stand an excellent chance - even bearing in mind it’s now approaching eight years since her last calf.

The dynamics will be fascinating to observe. Anjalee proved too exuberant for Burma and was best described as the playmate she needed 25 years ago. It’s easy to see Burma and even Permai largely taking a back seat, while Tang Mo dotes on the eventual calf/calves like she did at Taronga. She’s 25 years old and still young, so will likely prove Pak Boon’s greatest asset.


Given the expense of engaging the services of the Berlin team, it would be prudent to exhaust natural breeding as an option first. A cow cycles every four months, so allowing two cycles and then engaging the team for the third could be the best option.

There’s a happy medium to be found between spending a fortune and not giving adequate chance for nature to take its course; and acting quickly enough to ensure Pak Boon is given the opportunity to conceive while she is still viable.
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I am allowed my opinion!
 
Zorro said:
I am allowed my opinion!
Click to expand...

Of course you are (as is everyone on ZooChat). That doesn’t mean everyone is going to agree with you.

I simply said that given the services of the Berlin team are expensive, they would be wise to exhaust natural breeding in the first instance. I base my opinion on conversations with elephant keepers in the region over the past 18 months, who have stressed the emphasis is now on natural breeding over AI, which is expensive and unnatural. The intention as a region is to be rearing well socialised elephants that can naturally breed (with every opportunity afforded to calves to develop these skills).

In this particular instance, there is a time constraint and so I’ve asked @Swanson02 to enquire on his visit if they would consider AI as a last resort should Putra Mas and Pak Boon not mate naturally. I’m of the opinion a happy medium between allowing a couple of cycles to take place before resorting to AI would ensure the best outcome overall.
 
Luke899 said:
Isn't Putra Mas unable to breed naturally? So AI is a must in this instance correct?

Someone told me he can't mount cows.
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When I asked staff at Melbourne Zoo (who were familiar with Putra Mas), they said it was an unknown.

This is from Perth’s annual report (2005):

During the year, Perth Zoo recorded the first known natural mating of elephants in an Australian zoo. The mating followed the carefully planned pairing of 16-year-old male Putra Mas and 16-year-old female Permai as part of the Zoo’s breeding program for the endangered Asian Elephant. The pairing was timed to coincide with Permai’s reproductive cycle. Subsequent blood analysis revealed that Permai was not pregnant.

A lot of time has passed since then, so my opinion is trialling natural breeding of Putra Mas with Pak Boon (a proven cow) is worth a shot initially; with the acceptance they may need to engage the Berlin team to undertake AI for a subsequent cycle.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Of course you are (as is everyone on ZooChat). That doesn’t mean everyone is going to agree with you.

I simply said that given the services of the Berlin team are expensive, they would be wise to exhaust natural breeding in the first instance. I base my opinion on conversations with elephant keepers in the region over the past 18 months, who have stressed the emphasis is now on natural breeding over AI, which is expensive and unnatural. The intention as a region is to be rearing well socialised elephants that can naturally breed (with every opportunity afforded to calves to develop these skills).

In this particular instance, there is a time constraint and so I’ve asked @Swanson02 to enquire on his visit if they would consider AI as a last resort should Putra Mas and Pak Boon not mate naturally. I’m of the opinion a happy medium between allowing a couple of cycles to take place before resorting to AI would ensure the best outcome overall.
Click to expand...

↑↑↑↑ this is perfect explanation for differing opinions on ZC and how to navigate with, everyone's free to share their opinions of course, no-one would surely want to have it any other way obviously. But, better for anyone who disagress not to write snappy comments because it possibly just seems like hostility to everyone else.

Hey who do you think would be the most viable males to potentially sire a calf with Pak Boon if Putra Mas just is not interested?
 
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