Help us unpack their trunks
Before the Asian Elephant herd move to their new home at Werribee Open Range Zoo, there’s a lot of logistics at play to create a positive and safe experience for all. And we can’t do it without your help.
Will you help the Asian Elephant herd migration?
From organising cranes and transport trucks, to the careful timing of loading, transporting and unloading our precious cargo - nine elephants - every detail matters.
“With so many moving parts, the guiding principle underlying all the decisions being made is to maintain a calm and safe environment at all times,” says Trail of the Elephants Project Officer Lucy, who has dedicated 24 years to learning about the behaviours and social interactions of these graceful animals.
This moment has been years in the making... The 21-hectare habitat that is set to welcome the family of Asian Elephants from Melbourne Zoo and will usher in a new experience of what it means to “go to the zoo”.
Covering an area the size of five MCG stadiums, the Werribee Open Range Zoo expansion offers so much more than space – it promises the herd the best life possible. The herd will roam across seven unique habitats, cross connecting overpasses, play in mega pools and rest in two weather-proof barns with towering nine-metre ceilings and luxurious two-metre-deep soft sandpits for the most peaceful sleep.
The Elephants’ new home on the range is only one piece of the puzzle. Will you support us in their continued care at Werribee Open Range Zoo?
"It’s amazing to think these elephants don’t have a clue this is happening. After visiting Werribee I go back and think… imagine your faces when you see this space, you have no idea this is on the horizon, but we do, and we are working so hard to get them here,” Lucy explains.
“The mothers and calves will travel together, which is an important aspect of our elephant management philosophy. We are never undermining the relationship between a mother and a calf. If the mother is calm, the calf is calm and vice versa,” explains Lucy. The mother and calf can enter that crate at the same time, eventually the calf will enter an area in the front of the crate that is sectioned off for its safety. Lucy points out, “throughout the whole journey the mother and calf will have tactile contact with each other, they will be able to see each other, they will be communicating and able to travel safely together in that space.” We know the excitement will be shared by all as soon as the elephants’ feet hit the ground at their new home on the range.
The Elephant Trail team is working hard to get the herd ready for their historic journey. Will you support the future of Asian Elephants in the wild and in our care?
Once widespread throughout Asia, Asian Elephants are currently classified as Endangered in the wild by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List. There are fewer than 53,000 remaining throughout Asia, and wild populations are decreasing. That is only half the crowd of the MCG remaining in the wild. Zoos Victoria has international projects in Sumatra and Vietnam dedicated to the survival of Asian Elephants in the wild.
To save this species it will take the world. We need to come together as a global community. We must stop isolating the problem of threatened species and recognise we can all play a part in protecting these gentle giants in the wild.
Our Asian Elephant herd has grown, but wild populations continue to decline. Will you help us safeguard a future for elephants in the wild?
Zoos Victoria is a not-for-profit conservation organisation. Every tax-deductible donation helps our mission to fight wildlife extinction. Years of preparation have led us to this pivotal moment – a rare chance to redefine care in protected environments and reach new heights in animal welfare. Your help will make a lasting impact for Zoos Victoria’s Asian Elephant herd and those in the wild. The elephants are migrating – be part of this historic journey and help us unpack their trunks today.
It is with your continued support that we continue to fight for a future rich in wildlife.
Other ways to help us
There are many ways to support wildlife, including leaving a gift in your Will, Fundraising for wildlife, becoming an Animal Adopter, or Conservation Partner.
Thank you for your support. Together we can fight extinction and respond to all wildlife in distress.
As a supporter who cares deeply about our natural world of wildlife, you can be a crucial part of this positive change by supporting wildlife. All of our achievements – helping to save endangered wildlife both inside and outside our walls – would not be possible without you.