Work has recommenced today on the Elephant Habitat at Monarto Safari Park after stopping for April School Holiday activities.
The park will welcome five Asian Elephants, instead of just three, by mid-next year.
Pak Boon and Tang Mo are heading over from Taronga Zoo in Sydney, following in the footsteps of Burma from Auckland Zoo and Permai and Putra Mas from Perth Zoo.
Zoos SA Chief Executive Elaine Benstead said the facility is getting ready.
“We were excited when we announced the three… but to have another two cows joining us, a perfect size herd, one male and four females, by the middle of next year,” Elaine Benstead said to ARN’s Adam Connelly and Jennie Lenman on air this morning.
The aim is to first get Burma over to settle following international quarantine, then get the male elephant Putra Mas prepared.
“We’ve been building the additional habitat area, particularly one that’s suitable for the bull elephant… and looking to move them around April/ May next year. That will really be dependent on when Putra Mas, the male, finishes what they call ‘Musth’ which is his cycle of sexual activity. Apparently you just don’t touch a male elephant when they’re in that period…. then when he’s more settled, then they will come across from Perth and at about the same time, move the two females from Taronga,” Elaine Benstead explained.
She says it is likely the facility will offer special experiences for visitors once the elephants settle in.
“They are used to doing up-close encounters and of course they’re just such amazing creatures when you see them up close.”
Creating a large open-range habitat for elephants at the park has been made possible thanks to 4,773 donors who helped to raise over $2.4 million for the project.
Hear Elaine Benstead’s full chat with ARN’s Jennie Lenman and Adam Connelly, via the audio play window below:
