The ‘forever home’ of our beloved Asian Elephants Permai and Putra Mas is starting to take shape!

While our team of animal carers are busy prepping our gentle giants for their travel, our friends at Monarto Safari Park are hard at work creating an amazing habitat for the new regional herd.

Our teams have been closely collaborating with Monarto Safari Park to design the new 14-hectare space which will eventually be home to five Asian Elephants.

 

The expansive habitat will be made up of four separate areas with plenty of vegetation, varied terrain, and waterholes to create an enriching environment.

The four spaces will also give keepers flexibility to manage the movement of elephants and support social dynamics as the animals get to know one another.

Four large waterholes have now been excavated, all with sloped entrances and exits, big enough for the elephants to swim and even fully submerge.

Given how much Putra Mas and Permai love the water, we can’t wait to see them splashing about!

 
Importantly, in this new habitat, female Permai will have the opportunity to meet three new female elephant friends, Burma coming from Auckland Zoo, and Tang Mo and Pak Boon coming from Taronga Zoo.

Social structure is very important for female elephants who have a complex social needs and thrive off the company of other elephants.

Our keepers have done an exceptional job caring for Permai since the passing of matriarch, Tricia, but whether in the wild or within a Zoo environment, female elephants simply need to be with other female elephants.

And while we’re sad to say goodbye, we need to put their needs above our own.

Our elephants deserve the very best, and the new herd and habitat and Monarto Safari Park will give them just that!

While the habitat is starting to take shape, our elephants won’t be packing their trunks just yet.

Moving elephants is a jumbo effort and can’t be rushed. We’re taking every step needed to ensure our eles feel ready to travel and to make the journey as safe and stress-free as possible.



We’re aiming to have them in their new home in mid-late 2025.