Auckland Zoo is pleased to share news that Asian elephant Burma has arrived at her new forever home at Zoos South Australia’s (ZSA) Monarto Safari Park where she will soon become part of a larger herd.

Burma (42), who was accompanied by two of the Zoo’s senior elephant keepers and its veterinary manager throughout her Trans-Tasman travel yesterday, is the first of five elephants due to arrive at the Park’s expansive new 12ha elephant habitat over the coming year.

Along with Burma from Auckland Zoo, two elephants from Perth Zoo and two elephants from Taronga Zoo Sydney will form a founding family herd as part of the Australasian Zoo Aquarium Association’s regional advocacy and breeding programme for this Endangered species.

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Asian elephant Burma once she had arrived safe and sound at Monarto Safari Park in Australia.

“Our highest priority has always been to do the right thing for Burma and get her into a situation where she can be part of a larger elephant family herd. Her arrival in Australia is a huge step in that direction,” says Tātaki Auckland Unlimited Auckland Zoo director Kevin Buley.

“It’s been a long and complicated journey already to get to this point, with the construction of the new habitat at Monarto Safari Park and all the challenges of moving an animal as large as Burma between two countries. It’s only been possible as a result of the phenomenal dedication and skills of our Auckland Zoo team led by our team leader of elephants, Andrew Coers, and a huge amount of incredible teamwork with our friends at Zoos South Australia.

“It’s been a properly bittersweet moment for us all. Whilst we are all upset to have Burma leave us and we will miss her terribly, it is with the knowledge that she is going to an amazing new home in Australia where she will be cared for and loved as much as she was in New Zealand,” says Kevin.

Auckland Zoo’s veterinary manager Dr James Chatterton, who accompanied Burma throughout her travel, says Burma is doing well following her Trans-Tasman travel yesterday.

“Burma coped exceptionally well throughout her entire road and aircraft journey yesterday.  For an elephant travelling for the first time in 34 years, it couldn’t have gone better. This is testament to all of the preparations and planning that went into this move, and to the relationships that Andrew and the team have with Burma.

 “As we expected, Burma is tired, though she has had some sleep overnight, and importantly has been eating and drinking, and has peed and pooed, which are all good signs she is doing okay. It’s also been great to see her exploring her barn and adjoining yard environment while she is in quarantine. We’ll continue to monitor Burma closely over the coming days as her keepers settle her in,” says James.

​Working alongside their Australian colleagues, Andrew Coers and the Zoo’s elephant keepers will stay on with Burma for as long as required to fully settle her in and integrate her with her new elephant family. Collectively they have many decades, and a wealth of experience and expertise, in caring for elephants. (Burma arrived at Auckland Zoo in 1990, and Andrew alone, has been part of her life for over 25 years!).

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Asian elephant Burma with elephant team leader Andrew Coers and elephant keepers Corryn Coers, Odin Neil and Laurel Sandy

“Although Burma has left us to start her new life over the Tasman, she leaves us with so many happy memories and a legacy of connecting with millions upon millions of visitors over the 34 years that Auckland Zoo was her home. We know that she is going to have that same special impact on the wider community in South Australia, and, although she is now over 3000km away, we will always have an attachment to her, and will continue to follow her story closely,” says Kevin.

Zoos South Australia Chief Executive Elaine Bensted says welcoming Burma as the first elephant to Monarto Safari Park is an exciting day.

“It’s been 30 years since an elephant called South Australia home, and the response to our fundraising campaign showed just how much it means to Adelaide’s elephant and conservation-loving community to once again see these awe-inspiring animals.

“We are honoured that we can support Burma through her twilight years and will have Andrew and the Auckland Zoo team playing such a pivotal role in working alongside our staff to settle her in. Our new world-class elephant habitat will cater to Burma and the incoming herd’s complex social needs and structure in a way that is close to how they would live in the wild.”

“Having elephants at Monarto Safari Park as part of the Zoo Aquarium Association’s regional breeding and advocacy program now also means that more Australians will get to experience and learn about elephants and join us in supporting the vital conservation work needed to save these gentle giants from extinction,” says Ms Bensted.

Video

Asian elephant Burma moves to Australia

Many of you have been asking, how exactly do you transport a beautiful Asian elephant like Burma across the Tasman? In this video, we cover Burma’s move by land and air from Auckland to her forever home in Monarto Safari Park – so you can come along with us on the journey.

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Elephant team leader Andrew Coers in the pool with Asian elephant Burma

Burma move FAQ's

Burma was transported in a purpose-built crate, specifically designed for her weight and size and with just the right amount of moveable space for her to ensure her maximum safety while travelling. Via road, her crate was transported on a large truck and her Trans-Tasman aircraft travel was on a chartered Boeing 747 freighter.

Throughout her road and aircraft travel from Auckland to Monarto Safari Park, Burma had the reassuring company and onboard expertise of the Zoo’s elephant team leader, another senior elephant keeper and the Zoo’s veterinary manager.Auckland Zoo’s two other senior elephant keepers were also stationed at Monarto Safari Park for when Burma arrives.

Auckland Zoo’s veterinary manager Dr James Chatterton, who accompanied Burma throughout her travel, says Burma is doing well following her Trans-Tasman travel yesterday. He says Burma

“For an elephant travelling for the first time in 34 years, it couldn’t have gone better. This is testament to all of the preparations and planning that went into this move, and to the relationships that Andrew and the team have with Burma,” said James.

 “As we expected, Burma is tired, though she has had some sleep overnight, and importantly has been eating and drinking, and has peed and pooed, which are all good signs she is doing okay. It’s also been great to see her exploring her barn and adjoining yard environment while she is in quarantine. We’ll continue to monitor Burma closely over the coming days as her keepers settle her in.”

Yes, working alongside their Monarto Safari Park colleagues, with the support of Auckland Zoo, Auckland Zoo’s elephant team will be staying on with Burma for as long as required. They’ll be there to provide her with the important familiar, reassuring company and continuity of care she needs to fully settle into her new environment. (Collectively, this team has many decades of experience and expertise in caring for elephants, with several of the team having been a part of Burma’s life for well over 20 years!)

At this point, we are focused on Burma’s wellbeing and Andrew and other members of the Auckland Zoo elephant team. They will remain at Monarto Safari Park until Burma is fully settled into her new environment and during this time we will be working with the elephant team and Zoos SA to ensure the best possible outcome for Auckland Zoo’s staff.

Yes, we’ll be keeping everyone updated so be sure to keep an eye on our social channels. We also suggest checking Monarto Safari Park’s social channels.

As is a standard requirement for all international zoo-to-zoo animal transfers, Burma will be need to undergo a period of quarantine at Monarto Safari Park. While she won’t be visible to the Park’s visitors until late December, the team at Monarto will be connecting everyone with her via regular updates on their social channels.

Burma (42) is the first elephant to arrive at Monarto Safari Park’s expansive new 12ha elephant habitat. Over the coming year she will be joined by four other elephants: female Permai (33) and male Putra Mas (33) from Perth Zoo and females Pak Boon (31) and Tang Mo (25) from Taronga Zoo Sydney.  Female elephants are highly social and typically live in matriarchal herds. Burma will greatly benefit from and contribute to, being part of a matriarchal herd in this way. 

In the future, Elephant Clearing will be redeveloped to become part of our Africa Safari Track.

It’s not currently possible to confirm a timeframe, but this area will need significant changes for it to be suitable for other African species to live in this space.