Monarto Safari Park‘s first elephant Burma set to touch down in SA

Monarto Safari Park is set to welcome a new tusk-tacular member of their new Asian elephant herd next week.

After months of waiting, Monarto Safari Park will welcome the first member of its new Asian elephant herd, Burma, to her forever home next week.

Set to touch down in SA from Auckland on Tuesday, she is the first of five Asian elephants who will form a herd at the zoo by the end of 2025.

Announcing the news on Wednesday, Zoos SA was “thrilled” to have Burma join their family.

“Burma’s arrival is incredibly exciting for Zoos SA, and for South Australia,” a spokesperson said.

Upon her arrival, the 40-year-old elephant will immediately commence a standard 30-day quarantine period at Monarto.

As Burma prepares to make her final journey across the ditch, Zoos SA said her welfare remained their top priority during the transition.

The first arrival of South Australia’s new Asian Elephant herd will touch down in SA on Tuesday. Picture: Supplied / Monarto Safari Park

Burma’s arrival marks the first time SA has had an elephant in a zoo since in two decades. Picture: Supplied / Monarto Safari Park

“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,” the spokesperson said.

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.

The conservation park raised $2m at the end of last year to build their habitat, which will include a mammoth housing barn as well as waterholes.

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.

Originally published as Monarto Safari Park‘s first elephant Burma set to touch down in SA