Elephants at Monarto Safari Park

Monarto Safari Park has built a forever home for five mighty elephants.

Asian Elephants Burma, Permai, Putra Mas, Pak Boon and Tang Mo have become founders of a South Australian herd where they will roam at Monarto Safari Park, the largest open-range safari in the region, in a new habitat that meets their complex social structure needs.

Picture the plains of Monarto Safari Park..

then walking towards you, five mighty elephants

Meet the Elephants

Permai

Female | Age: 33

Permai is best known for her mischievous and cheeky personality - she loves to be the centre of attention and she's known among keepers as a bit of a rascal.

But through her cheekiness, she's an incredibly loyal and affectionate elephant who loves companionship. She's also an active gardener and likes to 'help' the horticulture team with tree pruning wherever she can - even though they don't ask for it!

After the loss of matriarch Tricia in 2022, Permai felt deep grief. She leaned heavily on the company of her dedicated keepers, and while she's regained her spark, she still misses her old elephant friend and the company of other females.

Now, Permai remains the only female elephant at Perth Zoo and she desperately needs a forever home with an elephant herd.

Putra Mas

Male | Age: 33

Putra Mas translates to 'golden prince' and he's certainly earned his namesake! He is as smart as he is cheeky, and he's quick to vocalise and trumpet away when he's happy.

Putra Mas has grown into an incredibly strong and remarkably intelligent bull elephant. In fact, his intelligence continues to blow keepers away!

While working with him from a safe distance, keepers say Putra Mas is able to understand new training programs very quickly and with ease. It's incredible to watch him understand his keepers and play games with them like soccer and relay races.

Putra Mas has also played an important role in the species' regional breeding program, introducing new and valuable genetics into the pool. In 2018, he sired a calf through artificial insemination, a female born in New South Wales.

Burma

Female | Age: 42

Burma was born in 1982 in Myanmar (formerly Burma) where she spent her early years at a logging camp. She arrived at Auckland Zoo in 1990 (aged eight years) to join older female elephant Kashin, who became her constant companion until passing away in 2009.

Now 42 years old, Burma has matured into a lovely gentle elephant - still very energetic and playful (but slightly less mischievous!) and, her keepers tell us, an elephant who absolutely loves her food!

For many months, Auckland Zoo's highly skilled and dedicated team of elephant keepers have been preparing Burma for her move, which has included lots of familiarisation sessions in her travel crate. We're delighted that our Auckland Zoo colleagues will be staying on with us to settle Burma in and integrate her with her four new elephant companions - who will be arriving over the coming year.

In 2015, Burma gained a new elephant companion in Asian elephant Anjalee (then aged eight years) who relocated from an elephant orphanage in Sri Lanka. Anjalee and Burma enjoyed a friendship and each other's company before Anjalee was relocated to Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Australia in March 2022 - to give her the opportunity to breed and be part of a larger herd.(In great news, Anjalee is now pregnant)

Pak Boon

Female | Age: 32

Pak Boon is Thai for 'Morning Glory' flower, and she was born in 1992. Keepers describe Pak Boon as talkative and energetic and note she enjoys her daily baths. She has a dominant personality and is the top of the hierarchy.

Tang Mo

Female | Age: 24

Tang Mo is Thai for 'Watermelon', and she born in 2000. Tang Mo is highly intelligent and is always up for an enrichment challenge and is highly engaged in training sessions. She has a strong bond with the keepers, usually giving a low grumble when they arrive each morning to start the day.

Elephant Park Journey

November 2023

Starting in November 2023, work began on designing a world-class habitat for the three Asian Elephants.

March 2024: Making moves

March marked a major milestone with the major works starting on the Asian Elephant barn!

A barn previously housing Black Rhino underwent a series of upgrades and an extension to bring the elephant barn up to current welfare and husbandry standards.

12 November 2024: Burma's arrival

The first arrival - 43-year-old Burma - was transferred from Auckland Zoo.

As is a standard requirement for all international zoo-to-zoo animal transfers, Burma will be in quarantine at Monarto Safari Park for her first month where she'll have the support, familiar company and expert care of her elephant keepers who are making the trip with her from Auckland.

13 November 2024: Safe and sound!

Asian Elephant, Burma - the newest member of the Zoos SA family - has safely arrived at Monarto Safari Park after a giant journey from Auckland Zoo.

13 December 2024: Burma's first steps into her new home

Burma, the first Asian Elephant to travel to Monarto Safari Park, has officially completed her quarantine period and is exploring her new home!

29 January 2025: Permai settles into Monarto Safari Park!

After a 40-hour, 2700km journey across the Nullarbor (with plenty of peanut butter sandwiches along the way!), Permai has arrived safely at Monarto Safari Park.

30 April 2025: Pak Boon and Tang Mo have arrived!

After a 22-hour, 1300km journey, Pak Boon and Tang Mo have arrived safely from Taronga Zoo Sydney.

October 2025 Asian Elephant Putra Mas

Monarto's last elephant begins the long journey to his South Australian home.

The wait is over! In October 2025 Asian elephant, Putra Mas, has begun his mammoth trip from Perth to South Australia to join the founding herd at Monarto.

The wait is almost over for Monarto Safari Park, as Perth Zoo's beloved Asian elephant, Putra Mas, begins his historic journey to South Australia.

"The precious cargo will make his way across the Nullarbor, bound for his forever home at Monarto Safari Park," Perth Zoo said.

The move marks a major milestone for both zoos. His departure signifies the end of a mammoth chapter in Perth Zoo's 127-year history and a proud moment for everyone involved.

Construction of Monarto's vast elephant habitat has been nearing completion for weeks, with an additional barn built especially for Putra Mas.

His arrival will complete the founding herd, joining females Permai, Burma, Pak Boon and Tang Mo.

Behind the scenes, both teams have been preparing for months.

On Monday morning, animal carers took Putra Mas through his regular crate training.

Just like every other day leading up to the zoo-to-zoo relocation, the 35-year-old bull elephant walked into his crate calmly and had his seatbelts fastened while munching on pears and apples. Except this time, it was for real.

He's now on the road, accompanied by an experienced convoy of Perth Zoo keepers and veterinarians who will remain with him throughout the cross-country journey and assist during his early days at Monarto.

"Putra Mas' move follows the successful transport of female elephant Permai earlier this year," Perth Zoo added.

The transport has been meticulously designed for comfort and safety. In his custom-built, insulated crate, Putra Mas has reverse cycle air-conditioning, plenty of snacks and water, and, importantly, a live camera so his carers can watch him for the entire trip.

Putra Mas and his crate weigh a total of 10 tonnes. The road trip covers around 2700 kilometres across the Nullarbor and is one of the largest transports ever undertaken for a bull elephant.

Once he arrives, he'll settle into Monarto's purpose-built barn for quarantine and rest before slowly meeting the rest of the herd. Keepers say introductions will take place at the elephants' own pace, with sound, scent and visual contact happening gradually.

Putra Mas's relocation is a historic step for elephant welfare in Australia. A golden prince from the west is now heading east to the wide open plains of Monarto, where his new life and a new era for South Australia begins.

When can visitors expect to catch their first glimpse of Putra Mas? That will depend entirely on how quickly he settles. Initially, he will be off habitat during quarantine and as he adjusts to his new environment.

Once he is comfortable exploring the habitat, visitors may be able to see him from the Zu-loop bus.

Source: glamadelaide.com.au

RedBalloon.com.au


Happens: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Time: 9.30am-5pm - last entry 3pm



 Monarto Safari Park | Open Range View Venue
 3401 Old Princes Highway Monarto South Australia 5254 Map

→ www.monartosafari.com.au

→ www.monartosafari.com.au

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