Auckland Zoo elephants Burma and Anjalee to be rehomed at separate zoos in Australia

Thursday, 22 April 2021

Auckland Zoo director Kevin Buley explains the elephants will be moved overseas after all options were exhausted to develop a herd at the zoo. (First published in November 2020)

Auckland Zoo has found new homes for beloved elephants Burma and Anjalee, who are set to travel to Australia later this year.

The zoo announced its decision to rehome the elephants in November 2020, saying the decision had been made to give them the “family herd” they need for their long-term wellbeing.

Anjalee, 14, needs to get pregnant soon to avoid any long-term reproductive health issues female elephants can face if they do not breed.

“Having exhausted all current possibilities to breed her here at Auckland Zoo, we will now work to move her to another accredited zoo programme where she can live in a multi-generational family herd,” zoo director Kevin Buley said at the time.

Auckland Zoo elephants Anjalee, 14, and Burma, 38, are heading to their new homes in Australia later this year.

* Auckland Zoo announces decision to rehome elephants Burma and Anjalee

The elephants will be moved to different zoos in Australia to ensure their “very different” needs are met.

On Thursday, the zoo announced Anjalee and Burma, 38, would be moving to separate zoos in Australia.

Anjalee will join the herd at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, while Burma will join Australia Zoo’s all-female herd in Queensland.

Anjalee will join a family herd of two cows, one calf and three bulls to give her “the very best” opportunity to breed, which is vital for her health.

Buley said the zoo had worked hard with its Australian colleagues and the Asian elephant breeding programme to ensure the “very different” needs of each elephant were met.

Anjalee will be integrated into a family herd of two cows, one calf and three bulls at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, giving her “the very best” opportunity to breed.

Burma, who can no longer breed, will have the opportunity to fulfil her natural role of “aunty” to the younger females in Australia Zoo’s herd of four.

Auckland Zoo’s elephant team leader Andrew Coers said while Burma and Anjalee were friends who enjoyed each other’s company, they didn't share a maternal bond and would sometimes like their own space.

“Anjalee was born at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka. She found herself largely on the periphery of the main herd, separated from her mother, and experienced the constant comings and goings of elephants – as a result she has become very independent.”

Burma however, had always only had one other elephant companion, including Kashin, who she lived with for 20 years.

Her “human family”, the zoo’s elephant team, had played an important role in her health and wellbeing, Coers added.

“The programme at Australia Zoo is very similar to ours, and some of the staff there have worked with Burma in the past, so that familiarity will greatly benefit Burma.”

“She’ll get the support she needs to integrate into her new elephant family where she can play the role of aunty to the younger females that she’s enjoyed doing with Anjalee.”

Auckland Zoo vets and staff will travel alongside the elephants to make their transitions easier.

The elephant keepers will stay with the elephants at their new homes to provide the pair with a “reassuringly familiar presence” while they settle in with their new Australian keepers.

The elephants’ departure from Auckland Zoo means there will be no elephants in New Zealand, which Buley said was devastating.

“Burma and Anjalee are extraordinary animals that have helped inspire millions of people to care about and act for wildlife and the environment.

“However, as always, we must put the needs of the animals first, and we are both relieved and excited to have secured such wonderful new homes for both elephants that will ensure they will have the very best long-term futures.”