The planned relocation of Putra Mas, the last elephant residing at Perth Zoo, to South Australia’s Monarto Safari Park has been postponed. The delay comes as the park continues efforts to integrate four female elephants that arrived earlier this year. Originally scheduled for June or July, the move of the male Asian elephant will now occur later in the year.
According to John Lemon, Perth Zoo’s Acting Director of Life Sciences, Monarto Safari Park is still in the process of facilitating introductions among the females. “They are still undertaking fence-line contact and trying to get those four animals to be a working herd, or at least share the same habitat,” Lemon explained.
Background on Elephant Transfers
The relocation of elephants from Perth Zoo began with the departure of the female elephant Permai in January, who joined Burma from Auckland Zoo at Monarto. Two additional females were transferred from Taronga Zoo shortly thereafter. The movement of Putra Mas was expected to follow, contingent upon his recovery from must—a periodic hormonal condition that can lead to aggressive behavior.
However, delays in completing necessary habitat modifications at Monarto Safari Park have contributed to the postponement. Despite these setbacks, Lemon remains optimistic that Putra Mas will be relocated by the end of the year. “We’re just on elephant time,” he remarked. “There’s still the introductions, they won’t hold us up, if they’re not together we’ll still look at moving our boy, but there is also some facility works that need to be finished.”
“[Putra Mas] has progressed really well with his crate training here. The bespoke crate’s been finished for some time, so it’s ready to roll. So it’s just waiting for all of those things to come together and we’ll set a date and move.” – John Lemon
Challenges with Rhino Transfers
In a related development, plans for Perth Zoo to acquire two southern white rhinos this year have also been derailed due to health concerns. “The female rhinos that were being considered for transfer to Perth Zoo have had a couple of unexpected health issues,” Lemon stated. “They are no longer suitable for road or flight transport. From a health point of view they need to stay at Werribee’s Open Range Zoo.”
The arrival of the rhinos was intended to coincide with the departure of the male rhino Bakari, who was to participate in a regional breeding program. However, with the current situation, Bakari will remain in Perth while alternative breeding options are explored. “There is quite a lot of science that goes into…what his genetics can contribute to the regional program, so we need to look at what are the best options for him moving forward,” Lemon noted.
Future Plans for Perth Zoo
Despite the delays, Perth Zoo is moving forward with a $30 million upgrade to its African Savanna exhibit. “We still have grand plans for that, but (the delayed move) is not holding it up at all and won’t affect the timing of that,” Lemon assured. The zoo has seen extensive construction in recent years, including the recent opening of a new gibbon enclosure.
This series of developments highlights the complexities involved in managing and relocating large animals within zoo environments. As Perth Zoo continues to adapt and plan for the future, the focus remains on ensuring the well-being and integration of its animal residents.
