it wont be that hard to modify the exhibits to care for calves in the short-term, Taronga's exhibit water features can even have their levels lowered or raised so they arent to deep for a young calf.
long-term i would like to see both MZ and TZ expand their exhibits into under-utilised adjacent parcels of land-in Tarongas' case the strip of land which runs along from the Kodiaks to the PNG aviary and extending out into the road and in MZ i would lose the giraffes (sending them to WORZ) and expanding the elephant area right down to where bongo currently are (perhaps even incorporating Asian Rhino and Tapir (in a nocturnal exhibit in the old giraffe barn)).
as I have said elsewhere Taronga now has a facility to accomodate at least one more adult bull elephant-of course Perth Zoo could immediately accomodate another cow and through attrition within ten years could be looking to hold several more as Trish ages and ultimately passes on.
Australia Zoo holds three ageing animals-you dont build a multi-million dollar exhibit with the expectation that it will be a 'white elephant' once its occupants die out. and once again, Auckland Zoo wants a whole herd with room for several bulls.
until the risks and triggers of EHV are fully explored and understood I would never argue for any of the Thai elephants or their offspring to be reolcated there...at least not whilst the Africans are there or the three old Asian cows, who, we could never quite rule out as carriers for now. in the future though what we have is a large, very new facility at Dubbo with space for many, many elephants. bulls? a breeding herd? thats a long way down the track.
from time to time this argument of not having space for elephants seems to crop up-i think its needless panic. we have a viable, well-run ASMP which becomes more promising year by year (pregnancies-TZ and MZ, exhibit expansions-Perth Zoo or project approvals-Auckland Zoo). and, at the end of the day....were looking at a species with a 22 month gestation and extended period of parental dependency.
plenty of time to get ready and make room.
and as I have said before, bachelor gorillas create problems with overcrowding but we still not only breed them (duh) but routinely send them around the world. because zoos still need male gorillas, and though it might be easier to jet a gorilla than an elephant around the world there will still be a demand, albeit a lesser one, for bull elephants in programs in other regions of the world.