Asian Elephant, Burma – the newest member of the Zoos SA family – has safely arrived at Monarto Safari Park after a giant journey yesterday from Auckland Zoo.

Zoos South Australia and Auckland Zoo are delighted to share that Burma has begun settling in overnight, familiarising herself with her new forever home at Monarto Safari Park.

Burma (42 y.o.) is the first elephant to arrive at the park’s new world-class 12ha elephant habitat, where she will be joined over the coming year 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.

Auckland Zoo elephant team leader Andrew Coers, who travelled with Burma on her flight yesterday, says the team is really happy with how Burma is recovering from her journey.

“Burma had a good sleep last night, all her movements are positive and she’s eating well which is what we were hoping to see,” said Andrew.

“She’s moving around her new environment, sussing it all out, smelling everything and generally making herself at home. We’ll continue to monitor her as she settles in, but early indications are that she’s recovering well from a long day of travel,” he said.

Zoos SA Chief Executive, Elaine Bensted, says the team are absolutely thrilled to welcome Burma to her new forever home at Monarto Safari Park.

“It’s hard to believe she’s finally here! It was a long trip for her from Auckland to Monarto yesterday, but there’s been so many of us on this journey with her for over a year now,” said Elaine.

“When Zoos SA put the call out in 2023 to raise funds to bring Asian Elephants to Monarto Safari Park, we never expected just how much the public would get behind this idea and commit to setting these elephants up with this social dynamic as a new herd.

“It’s been 30 years now since South Australia had a resident elephant and we know just how much it means to the elephant and conservation-loving community to see these awe-inspiring animals back roaming the Mallee Plains,” she said.

Together, the five Asian Elephants will form a founding herd as part of the Australasian Zoo and Aquarium Association’s (ZAA) regional breeding and advocacy programme for Asian Elephants – an endangered species with a continuing declining wild population due to habitat loss/fragmentation, and human-elephant conflict.

Managed by the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA), this program enables zoos to educate and inspire visitors, contribute to the conservation of wild elephants, ensure the best genetic outcomes with breeding, and work together to provide the best possible care for all elephants in the region.

Director of Monarto Safari Park, Peter Clark, says bringing the herd together is a win-win for everyone.

“Female elephants are highly social, and typically live in matriarchal herds. Here within this new Monarto herd, Burma will contribute to and greatly benefit from being with other elephants in this way,” said Peter.

“It’s important that we’re sharing how we provide the best welfare outcomes for elephants like Burma and the four others coming to join her here, while also educating people about conservation efforts and how they can help to save this beautiful species in the wild,” says Peter.

Works continue at Monarto Safari Park, where there is still more to be done to prepare for the arrival of the other four elephants throughout 2025, plus the additional visitor viewing areas and walking tracks that are being developed.

“It’s been a fantastic project to work with experts from both Auckland Zoo and Perth Zoo on the design of the new elephant precinct here at Monarto Safari Park,” said Peter. “We’ve converted 12ha of the Mallee Plains into an enriching home made up of four separate areas that accommodates the complex social dynamics of both cows and bull elephants. There’s varied terrain and vegetation to support both foraging and shade, and most importantly for Asian Elephants, there’s numerous waterholes and mud wallows.”

“The team here at Monarto Safari Park has just put the finishing touches on the customised elephant barn, which includes heating, cooling, and solar power,” Peter said. “This is where Burma will primarily spend her quarantine period, and in the adjoining outdoor yard, so she won’t be out in public areas for visitors to see her until quarantine is completed and she’s comfortable enough to be out in the wider habitat.”

As is a standard requirement for all international zoo-to-zoo transfers, Burma will be in quarantine at Monarto Safari Park for her first few weeks, where she’ll have the support, familiar company and expert care of her elephant keepers who are travelling with her from New Zealand.

Working alongside their Monarto Safari Park colleagues, three Auckland Zoo elephant team members will stay on with Burma for as long as required to provide her with the familiar, reassuring company and continuity of care that will help her to fully settle into her new environment, and meet and integrate with her new elephant family.

Auckland Zoo staff include elephant team leader Andrew Coers (who has worked with Burma for over 25 years and is a key member of the project team for the development of the new elephant habitat), senior elephant keeper Corryn Coers (who has worked with Burma for 22 years), and senior elephant keeper Odin Neil who has worked with Burma for 14 years.

Auckland Zoo Director Kevin Buley says Burma’s arrival at Monarto Safari Park is a huge step in the journey to fulfilling Auckland Zoo’s commitment to getting Burma into a situation where she can be part of a larger elephant herd.

“It’s been a long and complicated journey already to get to this point, with the construction of the great 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 staff, led by team leader of elephants Andrew Coers, and a huge amount of incredible teamwork with our friends at Zoos South Australia.

“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,” said Kevin.

Monarto Safari Park is open seven days a week, from 9.30am to 5.00pm. With demand expected to significantly increase upon Burma’s arrival, and daily park capacity limited to ensure the best visitor experience, non-members will need to reserve their tickets online to avoid disappointment. Visit monartosafari.com.au/tickets to book your adventure today!