Mystery $1m donation brings Monarto’s elephant dream one step closer to reality

A mystery donor has put an incredible $1m donation towards the return of elephants to South Australia.

South Australia is one step closer to welcome back elephants after a mystery donation of $1m.

The generous handout comes just a month after Monarto Safari Park launched an ambitious bid to raise $2m to bring three elephants to the state from zoos in Perth and Auckland.

The three elephants include Auckland’s 40-year-old Asian elephant Burma, and 33-year-olds Permai and Putra Mas from Perth.

It’s hoped the fundraiser campaign will raise enough funds to build an “elephant habitat” at Monarto that meets the complex social structure needs of the three elephants to call their forever home.

Auckland Zoo elephant keeper Emma with Asian elephant Burma. Picture: Auckland Zoo.

If the elephants integrate into their proposed new home, they would later be joined by “as many as five elephants or more”.

Zoos SA chief executive Elaine Benstead said she believe Monarto Safari Park is their perfect new home because it “reflects their long-term needs” as they live with other elephants.

“We want to work with fellow accredited zoos to provide the best home for the elephants where they can live with other animals as part of a herd structure,” Ms Benstead said.

If successful, it would be the first time SA has had elephants in a zoo since the death of Samorn, in 1994. She was a gift from the Thai government in 1956 and originally housed at Adelaide Zoo. She was later transferred to Monarto to spend the rest of her days.

You can donate to the fundraiser here