Auckland Zoo's elephants meet for the first time

Wednesday, 24 June 2015

Auckland Zoo's elephants have spent their first date romping in the sun, vocalising at each other and pleasing the crowds.

On a sunny winter's day elephant Burma met her new friend Anjalee, who is much younger and smaller.

Burma, 32, had been on her own since her old friend Kashin died six years ago, until Anjalee arrived at the weekend.

Anjalee, 8, has flourished since leaving a Sri Lankan elephant orphanage in March, putting on weight thanks to the tropical abundance of Niue where she has been in quarantine.

Head of life sciences Kevin Burley said the early signs couldn't be better and the elephants had been getting along very well so far.

They would be watched closely as they got to know each other and zoo staff were confident they had the animals' trust.