There’s been a mammoth delivery at a Victorian zoo, with nine Asian elephants arriving.
The entire herd has officially made the move to Werribee Open Range Zoo, following a five-day operation to relocate the animals from Melbourne Zoo.
It’s a significant upgrade, with the elephants now able to roam freely across their new 21-hectare home.
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Zookeeper Lucy Truelson said it was exciting to see the herd explore their new habitat, after years of meticulous planning.
“They are celebrating and really enjoying their new surroundings. They’re playing, exploring the landscape and they’ve slept beautifully,” she said.
“All these things show us that they’re content, confident, happy and thriving. This is everything we could have hoped for.”
The newly created Elephant Trail features two mega pools that together hold nearly two million litres of water, ensuring there’s no shortage of swimmable space.
It includes six large habitats with mud wallows perfect for roaming, foraging, and socialising, and its size is equivalent to the entire footprint of Melbourne Zoo — or five MCG playing fields.
It will be a few weeks before visitors can see the herd, as keepers are prioritising their welfare.
“The elephants are being allowed some quiet time and the opportunity to familiarise themselves with their new home,” Truelson said.
