Monarto Safari Park Monarto Safari Park News 2025

 
Jambo said:
The elephants actually passed through Melbourne yesterday night - and would've gone right past Werribee's herd. I do wonder whether they would have been able to sense elephants close by (although that would have been only for a short amount of time) as the trucks zipped past on the highway.

Anyhow, it's really positive news to hear that the elephants have arrived. Hopefully they've settled in well, and we receive an update on them and any initial interactions they've had with both Burma and Permai, through the bars ect. I'd imagine that the female they'd be allowed physical contact with initially through the bars would be Burma - considering Permai's uncertain character.
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Interesting that isn’t it, I remember Andrew coers saying he was with Burma on the far side of the elephant habitat from when Permai arrived. Burmas behaviour changed “instantaneously” and she “just knew” there was another elephant in the vicinity.
 
Jambo said:
They would've passed within less than a kilometer of Werribee's herd - so it's entirely possible they could've detected each other if either group of elephants were vocalising at the time.
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What’s more, elephants can detect individuals from their vocalisations (not unlike a signature). Pak Boon and Tang Mo were quarantined with Dokkoon, Kulab and Num-Oi in transit to Australia, so in addition to detecting the presence of elephants as they drove past Werribee, they may have known exactly which ones.

Wild herds have been known to recognise vocalisations of deceased herd mates a decade or more after their passing. While the bonds those cows formed in quarantine would have nowhere near as strong as what you’d expect to find in a multigenerational herd, it was a very significant period of time in their lives and no doubt memorable.
 
Zoofan15 said:
What’s more, elephants can detect individuals from their vocalisations (not unlike a signature). Pak Boon and Tang Mo were quarantined with Dokkoon, Kulab and Num-Oi in transit to Australia, so in addition to detecting the presence of elephants as they drove past Werribee, they may have known exactly which ones.

Wild herds have been known to recognise vocalisations of deceased herd mates a decade or more after their passing. While the bonds those cows formed in quarantine would have nowhere near as strong as what you’d expect to find in a multigenerational herd, it was a very significant period of time in their lives and no doubt memorable.
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They have also lived with Luk Chai before, so would know him.
 
Elephant Update

From socials:

Four very sleepy elephants.

The newly-formed Monarto female Asian Elephant herd got some shut eye after a big day of travel, meeting and more!

Flick through the pics to see Tang Mo and Pak Boon (pic 1), Permai (pic 2) and a the adjacent stall group shot of the new girls and Burma all sleeping aside each other (pic 3).

We can't wait to keep you updated on how the girls settle in.

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Tang Mo and Permai (foreground); with Burma in background.

The fact the elephants are comfortable enough to sleep in proximity to each other is a very encouraging sign. Pak Boon and Tang Mo are both well-socialised, confident elephants who will surely prove beneficial to the social structure of the herd. While relationships take a long time to form (as well we know), I’m the most optimistic of these two (especially Tang Mo) forming a good relationship with Burma and hopefully Permai, now the latter has had some time to adjust.
 

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Zoofan15 said:
Elephant Update

From socials:

Four very sleepy elephants.

The newly-formed Monarto female Asian Elephant herd got some shut eye after a big day of travel, meeting and more!

Flick through the pics to see Tang Mo and Pak Boon (pic 1), Permai (pic 2) and a the adjacent stall group shot of the new girls and Burma all sleeping aside each other (pic 3).

We can't wait to keep you updated on how the girls settle in.

View attachment 789549
Tang Mo and Permai (foreground); with Burma in background.

The fact the elephants are comfortable enough to sleep in proximity to each other is a very encouraging sign. Pak Boon and Tang Mo are both well-socialised, confident elephants who will surely prove beneficial to the social structure of the herd. While relationships take a long time to form (as well we know), I’m the most optimistic of these two (especially Tang Mo) forming a good relationship with Burma and hopefully Permai, now the latter has had some time to adjust.
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I am looking forward to the day that the four of them are out and about together on the outside and seeing the daily interactions between them, so far so good.
Have they got a concrete pool or will they get one in the future if they don't have one already?
 
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Zorro said:
I am looking forward to the day that the four of them are out and about together on the outside and seeing the daily interactions between them, so far so good.
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I continue to be impressed by Zoos SA’s success in pulling this off. It’s been just under two years since they announced plans to acquire elephants (in contrast to Zoos Victoria, who’d commenced planning a decade prior); and within that short space of time, they’ve constructed a 14ha elephant complex (the majority of which has been completed); and facilitated the arrival of four cows from three herds (and the imminent arrival of a bull next month).

Not only have they brought elephants back to South Australia, they’ve provided three city zoos wishing to phase out an avenue for relocating their elephants to a world class complex, ensuring their optimal welfare and the retention of one of the most genetically valuable captive bulls in the world in Australasia.
Zorro said:
Have they got a concrete pool or will they get one in the future if they don't have one already?
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Yes, they already have access to one of the man-made waterholes. Site plans indicate all the paddocks will feature pools.
 
Zorro said:
I am looking forward to the day that the four of them are out and about together on the outside and seeing the daily interactions between them, so far so good.
Have they got a concrete pool or will they get one in the future if they don't have one already?
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They have four waterholes, all ranging in size across four separate areas.

I remember seeing a socials post of Burma beside one of the larger ones a while back. I know she spent a lot of time in the pool at Auckland, so she's certainly one who I could see utilising the waterholes going forward.
 
Zoofan15 said:
I continue to be impressed by Zoos SA’s success in pulling this off. It’s been just under two years since they announced plans to acquire elephants (in contrast to Zoos Victoria, who’d commenced planning a decade prior); and within that short space of time, they’ve constructed a 14ha elephant complex (the majority of which has been completed); and facilitated the arrival of four cows from three herds (and the imminent arrival of a bull next month).

Not only have they brought elephants back to South Australia, they’ve provided three city zoos wishing to phase out an avenue for relocating their elephants to a world class complex, ensuring their optimal welfare and the retention of one of the most genetically valuable captive bulls in the world in Australasia.


Yes, they have access to one of the man-made waterholes.
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Yes I do agree they have done rather well the quick donations went to help in a big way. I hope "if" there is a long term plan to acquire some of the elephants from the Werribee herd in years to come they can plan ahead for that!
 
Jambo said:
They have four waterholes, all ranging in size across four separate areas.

I remember seeing a socials post of Burma beside one of the larger ones a while back. I know she spent a lot of time in the pool at Auckland, so she's certainly one who I could see utilising the waterholes going forward.
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Here’s some photos indicating the placement of the pools; and Burma by the side of one of them:

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Zorro said:
Yes I do agree they have done rather well the quick donations went to help in a big way. I hope "if" there is a long term plan to acquire some of the elephants from the Werribee herd in years to come they can plan ahead for that!
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I can definitely see that being a viable option decades from now if they fail to generate succession within this herd.

If successful breeding (and survival of the calves) continues at Werribee, they’ll surly be in the position to split a matriline into two (i.e. a mother and daughter) with one half coming to Monarto. Alternatively a split of the Dokkoon/Num-Oi lines could be an option - especially if factions form in the herd as their families grow.
 
Zorro said:
In regards to the night barn have they just upgraded the barn that was there already or have they also built a new barn recently?
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Jambo said:
The barn the cows are in was completed last year for the arrival of Burma. I believe they are now in the process of converting the former elephant house into a new bull barn for Putra Mas.
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Details of renovating the barn that previously housed black rhinoceros (and before that, Samorn):

The old elephant barn and surrounding area was until today used by the Black Rhinos and before that Samorn the Asian Elephant. Now the Black Rhino have a new habitat the barn will undergo a series of upgrades and an extension to bring the elephant barn up to current welfare and husbandry standards.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Elephant introductions:

Monarto Safari Park have shared a video of Pak Boon and Tang Mo have tactile contact with Burma and Permai through the bars. Lots of curiosity from both sides!

2K views · 318 reactions | Getting to know each other one trunk touch at a time | Monarto Safari Park
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Really good to see what looks to be positive interactions thus far. Especially delighted to see Permai interested in the two new girls, and feeling comfortable enough to touch both new girls through the bars.

Pak Boon appears to be the most interested in Burma and Permai; there's a lot of tactile contact from her.
 
Jambo said:
Pak Boon appears to be the most interested in Burma and Permai; there's a lot of tactile contact from her.
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I’d say that’s first and foremost a reflection of Pak Boon’s status as matriarch of the Taronga duo. She has the responsibility of checking out anything new that could be a potential threat to her herd.

Although it’s early days (just over 24 hours in), the initial tactile contact appears more friendly than then intertwining of trunks between Burma and Permai in the early stages of their introduction that indicated they were testing each other’s strength.

It’s interesting to note that two videos have now showed Burma in closer proximity to the Taronga cows than Permai. This suggests they’re working with the configuration of the stalls to restrict Permai’s interactions with them compared to Burma’s (who not only is the anticipated matriarch; but a calmer individual).
 
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