Taronga Zoo Sydney plans to farewell Elephants, and welcome Rhinoceros
A Great Migration Begins
Have you herd the news? Big changes are afoot as we plan to farewell Elephants and welcome a Rhinoceros to Taronga Zoo Sydney!
Asian Elephants Tang Mo and Pak Boon are set to depart the zoo in mid-2025 and will move to a new home at Monarto Safari Park in South Australia where they will become part of a larger social herd in a newly established 14-hectare, open-range habitat, joining three other elephants from Auckland Zoo and Perth Zoo.
Their new home will feature everything an elephant could want, from mud wallows and a mix of grassy, sand and soil mounds to four pools to provide the elephants with an array of creature comforts.
While these magnificent creatures will certainly be missed in Sydney, we’re so pleased to plan for their move to Monarto Safari Park where they will be able to join a bigger herd and live in a larger more complex habitat, which is set to open later this year.
Taronga Conservation Society Australia CEO Cam Kerr AO said: “Tang Mo and Pak Boon have been much-loved residents of the zoo since they arrived with three other elephants from Thailand in 2006 to establish a regional breeding program which has flourished across multiple zoos, educated millions of guests, and contributed vital learnings about the care for elephants to zoo and wild settings”.
A young Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros moving to Taronga Zoo Sydney!
Say hello to ‘Hari’
As part of a Great Migration, the elephants’ departure makes way for a new, multi-species habitat at Taronga Zoo featuring ‘Hari’, a young Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros who will move from Taronga Western Plains Zoo, joining several Water Buffalo.
Greater One-horned Rhinoceros are one of the largest species of rhino and often referred to as “real life unicorns” due to their distinctive solo horn which distinguishes them from other Rhinoceros species.
The future of Taronga’s Elephants
Taronga’s journey with elephants is far from over and we will continue to play an important role in the regional breeding program with seven elephants in the thriving, multi-generational herd at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo.
Over the coming year, Taronga has big plans to celebrate the two female elephants and ensure the community has the opportunity to say their farewells and to thank the dedicated Elephant Keepers who have cared for them for almost two decades.
Taronga’s plans to farewell Pak Boon and Tang Mo to an open-range zoo is in keeping with a number of urban zoos in the region who are adopting a similar approach. Zoos Victoria will move their elephants from Melbourne Zoo to Werribee Open Range Zoo by the end of 2024, and Perth Zoo and Auckland Zoo will also move their elephants to Monarto Safari Park.
The history of Taronga’s Elephants
Elephants have been part of the Taronga Zoo Sydney experience for more than a century ever since Jessie the Asian Elephant made an iconic journey through the streets of Sydney from Moore Park to Mosman in 1916.
FAQ's
Got questions about Taronga's Elephants? See below for our frequently asked questions about these beloved megafauna.
Where are Taronga's Elephants moving?
Tang Mo and Pak Boon will be moving to a newly established elephant habitat at Monarto Safari Park in South Australia.
When will Taronga's Elephants move to Monarto Safari Park?
The new elephant habitat is currently in construction and is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. Plans are already underway for elephants to move from Auckland Zoo and Perth Zoo, and Taronga Zoo Sydney’s elephants will follow once the other three elephants are settled. We anticipate this will be in mid-2025.
Moving an elephant is no small feat. Irrespective of their size, moving elephants require lots of preparation including training and conditioning of the elephants for travel and planning of transport logistics.
What other Elephants will form the herd at Monarto Safari Park?
Joining Tang Mo and Pak Boon at Monarto Safari Park will be female elephant Burma (41) who will make the move from Auckland Zoo, and male elephant Putra Mas (33) and female elephant Permai (11) who will move from Perth Zoo.
How big will their new home be?
The new elephant habitat at Monarto Safari Park will be 14-hectares – 30 times larger than the size of the current elephant habitat at Taronga Zoo in Sydney.
Why has Taronga made the decision to move the Elephants from Taronga Zoo Sydney?
While Tang Mo and Pak Boon are much loved zoo residents and they will be dearly missed, the move will give them the opportunity to become part of a larger, social herd in a newly established 14-hectare habitat and join three other elephants from Auckland Zoo and Perth Zoo.
Will their keepers move to South Australia with them?
Keepers from Taronga Zoo Sydney will accompany Tang Mo and Pak Boon when the time comes for them to make the move to South Australia. Our elephant keepers, who remain employed by Taronga, will stay with the elephants for as long as needed before handing over care to the skilled team at Monarto Safari Park.
Why won’t the elephants be going to Taronga Western Plains Zoo?
Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo, is and will continue to be, an important player in the regional breeding program for Asian Elephants in Australasia. The herd at Taronga Western Plains Zoo is a dynamic, multi-generational breeding herd. It is important that we maintain the strong, social stability between the females in the herd, continue to breed and provide a healthy and enriched environment for young elephants Sabai and Kanlaya.
While moving either Pak Boon or Tang Mo, or both to Taronga Western Plains Zoo was considered, the establishment of a new herd at Monarto Safari Park provides a great opportunity to continue the Asian Elephant conservation and breeding program in Australia, bringing together multiple individuals from facilities across Australasia to increase the social herd dynamic. This newly formed cohesive social herd will continue the incredible educational and conservation conversations with the public about this endangered species.
We know that seeing and connecting with an animal is one of the best ways to forge a relationship and deep understanding with public, and we believe that Tang Mo and Pak Boon will continue to inspire many generations to come in their new herd.
How are the keepers doing?
The team have known of the plans to move the elephants from Taronga Zoo Sydney for some time, but their departure will still be deeply felt by the keepers and our entire zoo community. Some of our keepers have worked with Tang Mo and Pak Boon since before they arrived at Taronga Zoo from Thailand. We are profoundly grateful to the team of exceptional elephant keepers who have cared for and worked with these elephants for so many years and contributed to advancements in the care for elephants beyond our zoos.
Will guests have a chance to say goodbye to the Elephants before they leave?
Of course. We recognise the deep and lasting connections millions of guests have made with Tang Mo and Pak Boon during their time with us, and we will ensure our community has the opportunity to say their farewells and to thank the dedicated keepers who have cared for them for almost two decades.
What will happen to the Elephant keepers? Will they work with other animals?
The Elephant keepers will remain employed by Taronga Zoo Sydney and will spend some time with Pak Boon and Tang Mo as they settle into their new home at Monarto Safari Park. The arrival of a Greater One-horned Rhinoceros and Water Buffalo will provide new opportunities for the team, many of whom have already worked with these species. Zookeepers are skilled at working across many animal groups, and with more than 4,500 animals across 350 species across Taronga, their expertise will be in high demand should they wish to remain with Taronga.
What will happen to the Elephant habitat when they move?
As part of a Great Migration, the elephants’ departure makes way for a new, multi-species habitat at Taronga Zoo featuring Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros and Water Buffalo. Greater One-horned Rhino are one of the largest species of Rhinoceros and often referred to as “real life unicorns” due to their distinctive solo horn which distinguishes them from other Rhino species.
When will we be able to see the Greater One-horned Rhinoceros in Sydney?
The exact timing for the arrival of Hari the Greater One-horned Rhinoceros will depend on the departure date of Tang Mo and Pak Boon, and some necessary modifications to the existing habitat to make it rhino friendly.
How will the Elephants be moved?
Moving elephants is no small feat, and the teams at Taronga Zoo and Monarto Safari Park are now in planning stages as to the most comfortable way for the elephants to be transported. Prior to the move, the keepers will work with the elephants over months to ensure they are well conditioned to purpose-built transport crates. When it comes time to move the elephants, they will travel with a team of keepers and vets.
Is moving Elephants dangerous or risky?
Taronga has lots of experience in transporting elephants, dating back to their arrival from Thailand as well as movements between zoos across the region to further the Australasian breeding program. Lots of planning and preparation goes into these moves to ensure the elephants are safe and comfortable in their transport crates and that they are ready for the move.