At the end of a wonderful day dedicated to both animal welfare and conservation, nine Asian elephants finally made it to their new home in the Werribee Open Range Zoo from Melbourne Zoo after a touch and go period of five days. In essence, the step which was completed today—the planned and end stage—won’t be overlooked in terms of the welfare and the state of health of the beautiful animals.
They were at the moment the elephants were transported: one adult male, five adult females, and three two-year-old calves. The distance, which was only 40 kilometers, crossing the whole city, brought them to a space of ten times their previous enclosure where they were delivered. The process of moving elephants was organized in a very detailed manner over the last two years, with the main part of the operation being the training of five elephants so they got used to their transport crates.
Erin Gardner, a keeper at the elephants’ used this word to describe the animals’ nervousness when reuniting them after a period of separation, although their comfort and joy were clearly expressed in their movements. “We saw lots of signs that showed us they were very comfortable and happy to see each other, lots of ear flapping, lots of trunk touching, lots of vocalizations,” Gardner narrated.
A team of 2 drivers and 2 contract buses specially placed the animals in the trucks and then the police in the lead position of the convoy assisted in the transport operation, which entailed the police-using some green lights to control the car flow. In order for the journey of animals to 40 minutes not to be stressful, they were given weak sedatives to relax and the adult animals were put ankle restraints on, so they could be stable.
At the Werribee Open Range Zoo, a new elephant facility of 52 hectares (128 acres), which carries cutting-edge technology, was established as a major part of the plan by architects in order to provide the elephants with a natural habitat that is nearly the same as their original one. Having two swimming pools that are 3.5 meters (11 feet) deep, lots of mud wallowing, and also well-crafted elephant barns is an addition that will definitely increase the attractiveness of the elephant complex.
One of the elephants’ favorite meeting spots is a place where three metric tons (3.3 U.S. tons) of sand have been piled up. The spacious quarters here are as great as the entire Melbourne Zoo, thus the noticeable improvement in living conditions becomes even more apparent for these ) communicating and socializing animals.
During the three weeks, the elephants will familiarize themselves with their new environment and become familiar with it before the public is allowed to see the new habitat. The time is well chosen for the herd to adapt to their vast new home and get accustomed to their habits in a peaceful environment.
Dr. Bonnie McMeekin, a vet who is responsible for moving the elephants, emphasized the importance of the preparatory work with the elephants. “We wouldn’t have been able to make the move safely without that training and that familiarity,” she explained, pointing out that he (the care) and (the) love for the animals during that period were demonstrated in a very explicit manner.
The relocation project, worth 88 million Australian dollars (equivalent to 55 million U.S. dollars), has been a massive investment in animal welfare and conservation. Zoos Victoria does its utmost to deliver not only the emotional animals but also an opportunity for people to come to know and love these (exact) animals the best way (they are used to).
Several conservationists and elephant charity enthusiasts are both equally excited as elephant secluding in (their new home) nears and consequently they praise the project as a useful help towards the elephants’ survival and conservation. The new territory at the Werribee Open Range Zoo will not only create a better life for nine elephants but also help broaden the scope of conservation as well as education projects.
The reunion of the herd after their brief separation during the move was particularly touching, with the elephants clearly exhibiting signs of recognition and affection towards each other. This behavior not only underlines the strong social bonds that elephant herds develop but also demonstrates the importance of the cohesion of family groups in captivity.
Both the people of Melbourne and the tourists are thrilled by the long-expected public unveiling of the fabulous elephant habitat, which serves as the emblem of the transitioning phase of the process by modern zoos to meet animal welfare in worldwide zoos. It also accentuates the part that modern zoos are acting in conservation, education, and research as they try to safeguard the extinct animal race for the next generation.
