Permai, the 37-year-old Asian elephant, has finally reached her new home at Monarto Safari Park after a jumbo 40-hour road trip from Perth Zoo.
The mammoth move, which began on Monday, was meticulously planned to ensure Permai’s wellbeing throughout the long journey.
Upon her arrival at Monarto, Permai received a warm welcome from the park’s staff, who cheered as she stepped out of the transport vehicle.
The elephant appeared tired but eager to stretch her legs and explore her new surroundings.
“Considering it was a two-day trip, she’s gone pretty well,” said Michael Lynch, a Perth Zoo veterinarian who accompanied Permai on her journey.
“She’s very tired now. She didn’t particularly like it.”
Despite the challenging journey, Permai maintained her appetite, enjoying bamboo and peanut butter sandwiches provided by her dedicated caretakers.
The elephant’s new home at Monarto Safari Park offers a more natural habitat compared to her previous enclosure in Perth.
She will soon be introduced to her fellow elephant, Burma, who relocated from Auckland last year.
The park’s ultimate goal is to create a thriving Asian elephant herd with the addition of two more elephants from Taronga Zoo in the future.
“It’s great why she’s here, to be with other females, so very, very happy,” Lynch said.
Monarto Safari Park manager Andrew Coers said it would be a gradual process introducing Permai to the other elephants.
“There will come a time where we will bring them closer together between a barrier … Hopefully they will just link trunks and greet one another,” he said.
This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.
