Noah's Ark Zoo Farm Elephants Arrive
- Thread starter Pertinax
- Start date
An update;
THE arrival of a pair of elephants to Noah's Ark Zoo Farm at Wraxall could be delayed until the Spring. The zoo has been hoping for the arrival of two African elephants – a male and female – at the zoo for the past several months.
Specialist keepers have been working with the two elephants to transport them to their new home for several months.
The elephants, which will live in the zoo's new Elephant Eden, are being transported to the farm using a specially-designed ten-and-a-half tonne crate, which will be craned onto a low loader.
The crate has been specially built to allow the elephants to walk into it freely without force and was built using designs from US-based elephant expert Alan Roocroft.
Specialist keepers at their current zoo in the UK have been training the elephants over the past months to prepare them to use the specialist crates.
It had been hoped to welcome the elephants – which weigh around three tonnes – to Wraxall last autumn. But due to the fact the male elephant is not yet totally comfortable with using the crate, their arrival has been delayed.
It is now hoped the animals will be on their way sometime in mid-February.
Noah's Ark spokesman Jon Woodward said: "The female has got to the point where she is completely happy and relaxed in the transport crate and even eats her meals in there.
"The training of the male to use the crate however is taking slightly longer.
"Elephants are extremely intelligent animals and we do not want them to associate anything negative or stressful with the move which could have consequences for them settling in to their new home at Noah's Ark."
Read more: Training delays elephant arrival at zoo farm | Bristol Post
THE arrival of a pair of elephants to Noah's Ark Zoo Farm at Wraxall could be delayed until the Spring. The zoo has been hoping for the arrival of two African elephants – a male and female – at the zoo for the past several months.
Specialist keepers have been working with the two elephants to transport them to their new home for several months.
The elephants, which will live in the zoo's new Elephant Eden, are being transported to the farm using a specially-designed ten-and-a-half tonne crate, which will be craned onto a low loader.
The crate has been specially built to allow the elephants to walk into it freely without force and was built using designs from US-based elephant expert Alan Roocroft.
Specialist keepers at their current zoo in the UK have been training the elephants over the past months to prepare them to use the specialist crates.
It had been hoped to welcome the elephants – which weigh around three tonnes – to Wraxall last autumn. But due to the fact the male elephant is not yet totally comfortable with using the crate, their arrival has been delayed.
It is now hoped the animals will be on their way sometime in mid-February.
Noah's Ark spokesman Jon Woodward said: "The female has got to the point where she is completely happy and relaxed in the transport crate and even eats her meals in there.
"The training of the male to use the crate however is taking slightly longer.
"Elephants are extremely intelligent animals and we do not want them to associate anything negative or stressful with the move which could have consequences for them settling in to their new home at Noah's Ark."
Read more: Training delays elephant arrival at zoo farm | Bristol Post
This all sounds very odd indeed. It's nice that they seem to be putting such emphasis on the animal's welfare but I was under the impression that elephants generally travel pretty well.
Is this because they are protected contact or because they are going to have to travel for an extended period of time? Or is it all bluster trying to cover some other reason for the delay?
And when are we going to find out where they are coming from?
Is this because they are protected contact or because they are going to have to travel for an extended period of time? Or is it all bluster trying to cover some other reason for the delay?
And when are we going to find out where they are coming from?
Johnny Morris.
Well-Known Member
Well according to Zootierliste, only Howletts, Colchester, Port Lympne, Knowsley, Paignton, Blair Drummond and West Midland, Keep African Elephants in the UK. Paignton only has the one female, so it can't be them.
You can rule out WMSP as well, they only hold two females at the moment and have done so for a few years now.
For some reason I can't get the Aspinall parks out of my head but then I keep thinking of Damian Aspinall and his anti-zoo stance. If they were to come from there I wonder how he'd justify it?
If they were to come from there I wonder how he'd justify it?
*rubs fingers together*
Johnny Morris.
Well-Known Member
If they were to come from there I wonder how he'd justify it?
"I didn't send Elephants to a zoo, I don't believe in zoo's, I sent them to a farm."
I'm fairly sure they are coming from outside the UK. Only the Aspinall parks have african elephants to spare and I doubt they would send them two by two.
I'm guessing something from Europe, probably the East, or else direct from Africa.
If I had to bet I'd go with Zimbabwe. I've got a good feeling about Zimbabwe.
I'm guessing something from Europe, probably the East, or else direct from Africa.
If I had to bet I'd go with Zimbabwe. I've got a good feeling about Zimbabwe.
Johnny Morris.
Well-Known Member
It says in the Link, it's a UK zoo.
Knowsley ...
That would be my bet!
"I didn't send Elephants to a zoo, I don't believe in zoo's, I sent them to a farm."
There is a lot of truth in that statement.
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Better late than never good luck to them now they have 1!
I wonder how many months they will now have to wait for the male to arrive from Knowsley as well!!!!
I wonder how many months they will now have to wait for the male to arrive from Knowsley as well!!!!
