The future of elephants at Auckland Zoo
There's been a lot of interest regarding the future of elephants at Auckland Zoo, so we'd like to address some of your questions and clear up some inaccuracies.
Elephants should be with other elephants, wouldn't it be easier to send Burma to another zoo instead of getting more elephants here?
Nobody cares for the welfare of elephants more than Auckland Zoo. We know that the best scenario is for Burma to be with other elephants, which is one of the reasons we are trying to establish a herd here.
Because Burma has been at Auckland Zoo for 20 years, she has established very strong bonds with her keeping team. That's why the Zoo thinks it's best for Burma if we can provide elephant companions here at her home in Auckland, rather than moving her to an unfamiliar environment.
However, if Burma's wellbeing deteriorates while she's on her own, we would of course do what's best for her – and that would include looking to move her to a zoo in Australia with other elephants.
How do you know that Burma is happy here?
Since Kashin's passing, Burma has been closely monitored. As part of this, the Zoo has installed cameras in the elephant barn and elephant paddock so that keepers and vets can watch her at all times for any signs that she may not be coping.
However, she continues to cope extremely well – mentally, physically and emotionally. This is testament to Auckland Zoo's elephant management programme, which involves keepers making sure that each day's routine is different. This programme is highly regarded internationally, and recognised as one of the most progressive in the world.
Auckland Zoo also has an extraordinary team of elephant keepers and vets whose commitment to ensuring the best for our current, and hopefully future, elephant(s) is second to none.
Can't you just take in Jumbo (now Mila)?
The only other elephant in New Zealand besides Burma, is Franklin Zoo's elephant Jumbo – now named Mila.
Mila is an African elephant and a different species to Burma. Mila would not be a suitable companion animal for Burma because African elephants carry a particular disease that could impact seriously on the health of Burma and any other Asian elephants that come to Auckland Zoo in the future.
African elephants are carriers of the endotheliotrophic herpes virus. This herpes virus can remain latent in African elephants (the elephant carries the virus but has no observable illness) while the virus can cause severe illness, with high mortality rates in Asian elephants. There are also no medications that can be used to ensure that carrier animals are cleared of the disease.
Since it was only Burma and Kashin for so long, couldn't you just bring in one more elephant?
While it was good for Burma and Kashin to have each other for company, elephants are social animals and enjoy being in groups.
Our existing elephant clearing can currently accommodate up to four elephants, and we have the ability to make changes to the existing facility. However, we want to provide enough space for a growing breeding herd.
For this, the Zoo needs to expand the existing elephant clearing to six acres – six times its current size. This will take up zoo and parkland, and have varying terrains of grassland, forest and watercourses. Such a substantial area will ensure the elephants will live together in a natural family structure with plenty of room to roam.
To find out more about the elephant clearing expansion plans and the public consultation process CLICK HERE.
Click here for a diagram of the proposed elephant clearing expansion.
How many elephants do you want to bring to the Zoo?Auckland Zoo initially hopes to adopt two young female elephants to establish a herd structure for Burma.
Eventually, we want to establish a permanent and sustainable breeding herd, so we hope to source bull elephants later on. We hope that this breeding programme will establish a herd of 10 elephants including bulls, matriarchs, young mothers, and calves. To find out more about the elephant importation requirements we're working on CLICK HERE.
If you get a new herd of elephants, will you get them from the wild?
Any new elephants coming to Auckland Zoo would come from a facility such as another zoo or rescue and breeding centre – never taken directly from the wild.
On hearing about Burma's situation, representatives of the Sri Lankan government approached Auckland Zoo, and we are now exploring the possibility of sourcing Asian elephants from an elephant orphanage in Sri Lanka.
These elephants have been orphaned because of the human-animal conflict taking place in Sri Lanka as people and animals compete for living space. The opportunity to help re-house these rescued elephants is an exciting and promising possibility that we're working hard to make a reality, and Auckland Zoo would manage these animals in the same world-class way we do with Burma.
How much will it cost? And where will the money come from?
We think it will cost approximately $3m to transfer new elephants to New Zealand, and $10m to expand the existing elephant clearing for them once they start breeding.
We don't expect ratepayers to cover these costs. We will try to raise the money from a variety of sources including fundraising, sponsorship and donations.
Could you not just spend the $13m on helping out elephants in the wild?
Without having elephants here at Auckland Zoo to connect and engage with our visitors, we think it would be very difficult for us to raise $13m to support elephant conservation in Asia.
By allowing thousands of people a year to meet elephants here at the Zoo, we give them a way to come face-to-face with wildlife that they would not normally have a chance to see. We hope that this will inspire some of them to care about wildlife and wild habitats – this is one of the key reasons that we exist.
We also place high importance on elephant conservation in the wild, so we actively invest in projects overseas. To find out more about the conservation projects we support, CLICK HERE.
After Kashin passed away, ASB helped us to set up the Kashin Elephant Conservation Fund to provide ongoing support to specifically support elephant conservation in the wild.
Do you just want to have more elephants to make more money?
No. We are a not-for-profit organisation, so the money that the Zoo makes from admission goes toward caring for our animals.
Auckland Zoo attracts over 600,000 visitors annually, so this support is invaluable.
We also know – from visitor responses to meeting Kashin and Burma – that elephants are among the most powerful and effective ambassadors for conservation. After seeing over 18,000 people come to Kashin's Memorial Day in 2009, it was clear that Kashin had indeed had a profound effect on many Aucklanders.
Why do you need extra land?
We have always said that we will only hold elephants at Auckland Zoo if we can do it properly.
Some zoos around the world have identified that they do not have the resources or space to meet the ongoing needs of managing their elephants and are transferring them to other facilities. However, Auckland Zoo has looked very carefully at these requirements, and we are one of the fortunate facilities that can meet the complicated requirements for managing elephants, now and into the future.
In fact, many animal rights campaigners acknowledge that Auckland Zoo provides very well for all the animals in our care.
Elephant clearing expansion plans: On 11 August 2010, plans for the future of elephants in Auckland took a significant step forward.
The Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee of Auckland City Council endorsed a proposal, which would see the Auckland Zoo incorporate two areas of Western Springs Lakeside Park for the establishment of an elephant herd. The proposed areas, which run adjacent to the Zoo's current elephant enclosure, will include an exercise area, a new elephant bull house, a public viewing area and boardwalk.
You can see a copy of the proposal here.
Chairperson of the Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee, Councillor Greg Moyle says, "extending the elephant's area will mean that not only do zoo visitors get to see these amazing animals, visitors to one of Auckland's favourite open spaces will as well".
Chairman of the Zoo Board, Councillor Graeme Mulholland says, "Auckland Zoo is the only place where New Zealanders can view Asian elephants. The endorsement of this proposal is an exciting step in ensuring this continues".
The new elephant space will require a change to the Auckland District Plan. This will be a publicly notified plan change process. It is anticipated that the plan change will be notified later this year.
Elephant importation standardsAuckland Zoo has been working closely with MAF Biosecurity New Zealand to do the preparatory work required for an Import Health Standard (HIS) to bring elephants into New Zealand. As part of this, we've completed the disease risk assessment aspects.
Thanks to MAF, this means we're now in a position to move forward on developing a more detailed management plan that will also include requirements for a third country quarantine.
One of the possibilities for third country quarantine is Niue, and we are working with MAF and the Niue government to explore the suitability of this. Niue has served as a third country quarantine previously for Alpacas being imported into New Zealand, and this worked very well.
Auckland Zoo The future of elephants at Auckland Zoo
There's been a lot of interest regarding the future of elephants at Auckland Zoo, so we'd like to address some of your questions and clear up some inaccuracies.
Elephants should be with other elephants, wouldn't it be easier to send Burma to another zoo instead of getting more elephants here?
Nobody cares for the welfare of elephants more than Auckland Zoo. We know that the best scenario is for Burma to be with other elephants, which is one of the reasons we are trying to establish a herd here.
Because Burma has been at Auckland Zoo for 20 years, she has established very strong bonds with her keeping team. That's why the Zoo thinks it's best for Burma if we can provide elephant companions here at her home in Auckland, rather than moving her to an unfamiliar environment.
However, if Burma's wellbeing deteriorates while she's on her own, we would of course do what's best for her – and that would include looking to move her to a zoo in Australia with other elephants.
How do you know that Burma is happy here?
Since Kashin's passing, Burma has been closely monitored. As part of this, the Zoo has installed cameras in the elephant barn and elephant paddock so that keepers and vets can watch her at all times for any signs that she may not be coping.
However, she continues to cope extremely well – mentally, physically and emotionally. This is testament to Auckland Zoo's elephant management programme, which involves keepers making sure that each day's routine is different. This programme is highly regarded internationally, and recognised as one of the most progressive in the world.
Auckland Zoo also has an extraordinary team of elephant keepers and vets whose commitment to ensuring the best for our current, and hopefully future, elephant(s) is second to none.
Can't you just take in Jumbo (now Mila)?
The only other elephant in New Zealand besides Burma, is Franklin Zoo's elephant Jumbo – now named Mila.
Mila is an African elephant and a different species to Burma. Mila would not be a suitable companion animal for Burma because African elephants carry a particular disease that could impact seriously on the health of Burma and any other Asian elephants that come to Auckland Zoo in the future.
African elephants are carriers of the endotheliotrophic herpes virus. This herpes virus can remain latent in African elephants (the elephant carries the virus but has no observable illness) while the virus can cause severe illness, with high mortality rates in Asian elephants. There are also no medications that can be used to ensure that carrier animals are cleared of the disease.
Since it was only Burma and Kashin for so long, couldn't you just bring in one more elephant?
While it was good for Burma and Kashin to have each other for company, elephants are social animals and enjoy being in groups.
Our existing elephant clearing can currently accommodate up to four elephants, and we have the ability to make changes to the existing facility. However, we want to provide enough space for a growing breeding herd.
For this, the Zoo needs to expand the existing elephant clearing to six acres – six times its current size. This will take up zoo and parkland, and have varying terrains of grassland, forest and watercourses. Such a substantial area will ensure the elephants will live together in a natural family structure with plenty of room to roam.
To find out more about the elephant clearing expansion plans and the public consultation process CLICK HERE.
Click here for a diagram of the proposed elephant clearing expansion.
How many elephants do you want to bring to the Zoo?Auckland Zoo initially hopes to adopt two young female elephants to establish a herd structure for Burma.
Eventually, we want to establish a permanent and sustainable breeding herd, so we hope to source bull elephants later on. We hope that this breeding programme will establish a herd of 10 elephants including bulls, matriarchs, young mothers, and calves. To find out more about the elephant importation requirements we're working on CLICK HERE.
If you get a new herd of elephants, will you get them from the wild?
Any new elephants coming to Auckland Zoo would come from a facility such as another zoo or rescue and breeding centre – never taken directly from the wild.
On hearing about Burma's situation, representatives of the Sri Lankan government approached Auckland Zoo, and we are now exploring the possibility of sourcing Asian elephants from an elephant orphanage in Sri Lanka.
These elephants have been orphaned because of the human-animal conflict taking place in Sri Lanka as people and animals compete for living space. The opportunity to help re-house these rescued elephants is an exciting and promising possibility that we're working hard to make a reality, and Auckland Zoo would manage these animals in the same world-class way we do with Burma.
How much will it cost? And where will the money come from?
We think it will cost approximately $3m to transfer new elephants to New Zealand, and $10m to expand the existing elephant clearing for them once they start breeding.
We don't expect ratepayers to cover these costs. We will try to raise the money from a variety of sources including fundraising, sponsorship and donations.
Could you not just spend the $13m on helping out elephants in the wild?
Without having elephants here at Auckland Zoo to connect and engage with our visitors, we think it would be very difficult for us to raise $13m to support elephant conservation in Asia.
By allowing thousands of people a year to meet elephants here at the Zoo, we give them a way to come face-to-face with wildlife that they would not normally have a chance to see. We hope that this will inspire some of them to care about wildlife and wild habitats – this is one of the key reasons that we exist.
We also place high importance on elephant conservation in the wild, so we actively invest in projects overseas. To find out more about the conservation projects we support, CLICK HERE.
After Kashin passed away, ASB helped us to set up the Kashin Elephant Conservation Fund to provide ongoing support to specifically support elephant conservation in the wild.
Do you just want to have more elephants to make more money?
No. We are a not-for-profit organisation, so the money that the Zoo makes from admission goes toward caring for our animals.
Auckland Zoo attracts over 600,000 visitors annually, so this support is invaluable.
We also know – from visitor responses to meeting Kashin and Burma – that elephants are among the most powerful and effective ambassadors for conservation. After seeing over 18,000 people come to Kashin's Memorial Day in 2009, it was clear that Kashin had indeed had a profound effect on many Aucklanders.
Why do you need extra land?
We have always said that we will only hold elephants at Auckland Zoo if we can do it properly.
Some zoos around the world have identified that they do not have the resources or space to meet the ongoing needs of managing their elephants and are transferring them to other facilities. However, Auckland Zoo has looked very carefully at these requirements, and we are one of the fortunate facilities that can meet the complicated requirements for managing elephants, now and into the future.
In fact, many animal rights campaigners acknowledge that Auckland Zoo provides very well for all the animals in our care.
Elephant clearing expansion plans: On 11 August 2010, plans for the future of elephants in Auckland took a significant step forward.
The Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee of Auckland City Council endorsed a proposal, which would see the Auckland Zoo incorporate two areas of Western Springs Lakeside Park for the establishment of an elephant herd. The proposed areas, which run adjacent to the Zoo's current elephant enclosure, will include an exercise area, a new elephant bull house, a public viewing area and boardwalk.
You can see a copy of the proposal here.
Chairperson of the Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee, Councillor Greg Moyle says, "extending the elephant's area will mean that not only do zoo visitors get to see these amazing animals, visitors to one of Auckland's favourite open spaces will as well".
Chairman of the Zoo Board, Councillor Graeme Mulholland says, "Auckland Zoo is the only place where New Zealanders can view Asian elephants. The endorsement of this proposal is an exciting step in ensuring this continues".
The new elephant space will require a change to the Auckland District Plan. This will be a publicly notified plan change process. It is anticipated that the plan change will be notified later this year.
Elephant importation standardsAuckland Zoo has been working closely with MAF Biosecurity New Zealand to do the preparatory work required for an Import Health Standard (HIS) to bring elephants into New Zealand. As part of this, we've completed the disease risk assessment aspects.
Thanks to MAF, this means we're now in a position to move forward on developing a more detailed management plan that will also include requirements for a third country quarantine.
One of the possibilities for third country quarantine is Niue, and we are working with MAF and the Niue government to explore the suitability of this. Niue has served as a third country quarantine previously for Alpacas being imported into New Zealand, and this worked very well.
Auckland Zoo The future of elephants at Auckland Zoo
