Traffic delays expected as Monarto Safari Park’s first elephant Burma touches down in SA

The highly-anticipated arrival of one very unique Adelaide resident is expected to trigger some jumbo traffic delays as she heads to her new home.

Motorists be prepared for wild peak-hour traffic delays, with the highly-anticipated arrival of the first of Monarto Zoo’s new Asian elephants on Tuesday.

Burma the Asian elephant will hit the road between 4pm to 5pm to make the 73km journey from Adelaide Airport to her new home accompanied by police escorts.

Travelling from Auckland, the 42-year-old elephant will immediately commence a standard 30-day quarantine period at Monarto.

Burma celebrated her 42nd birthday at Auckland Zoo just before making the move to Monarto Safari Park. Picture: Auckland Zoo

Burma the Elephant is making the journey across the ditch from Auckland Zoo. Picture: Auckland Zoo

She has been training for the move. Picture: 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,” a spokesperson for Zoos SA said on Monday.

Perth pair Permai and Putra Mas, and Taronga Zoo’s Pak Boon and Tang Mo will join Burma in their new multimillion-dollar enclosure by mid-2025.

Burma’s arrival marks the first time SA has had an elephant in a zoo since the death of beloved matriarch Samorn at Monarto in 1994.