Taronga Western Plains Zoo is eagerly preparing for a jumbo arrival with Elephant Keepers confirming the pregnancy of 18-year-old Asian Elephant Anjalee. 

Anjalee means ‘gracious gift’ in Sinhalese, and Taronga Conservation Society Australia Chief Executive Cameron Kerr AO said the news was also a gift for the regional breeding program. 

“Asian Elephants are endangered in the wild and every pregnancy is crucial,” Cameron said. 

“Anjalee arrived here at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in 2022. Our keepers have been working tirelessly to integrate her into our female herd and support her to build social relationships with our bulls, including breeding bull Gung. 

“This milestone is a testament to the team’s hard work. Whilst it is early days, Anjalee is around the six-month mark, we’re so excited to share this news. We can’t wait to welcome the newest member of the elephant herd towards the end of 2025.” 

Born at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka in 2006, Anjalee moved to Auckland Zoo in 2015 before relocating to Taronga Western Plains Zoo in March 2022. 

The two Zoos worked collaboratively to offer Anjalee a new home in a social herd and the opportunity to breed naturally, critical for her reproductive health, after multiple attempts to conceive via artificial insemination in New Zealand were unsuccessful. 

Once settled at the Zoo, Anjalee was integrated into the female herd, a complex task given the different personalities and herd hierarchy. Anjalee was then introduced to the Zoo’s bull elephants including 24-year-old experienced breeder Gung, for social opportunities and relationship building. 

“The better relationships are within the herd, the better the environment is for producing and introducing a new calf to the group,” Taronga Western Plains Zoo Elephant Supervisor, Joel Kerr said. 

Joel described Anjalee as a “sweet-natured and exceptionally intelligent elephant, who learns new behaviours and activities very quickly”. 

“Her bond with the females in the herd has grown considerably since her arrival, as the herd comes together regularly to dust bath, wallow, graze and forage,” Joel said. 

“This will be Anjalee’s first calf and elephant gestation is approximately 22 months long, so there is still a long way to go until we have a new member in the herd. 

“Anjalee has adapted amazingly well to her new environment and has found her role in the herd as a doting aunty to our youngest elephant Kanlaya – you will often find her standing guard over Kanlaya as she enjoys her midday naps and loves to join her for swims in the summer! 

“We will be working hard over the next 14 to 15 months to make sure her pregnancy and the birthing process is as smooth as possible, to give Anjalee and her future offspring every chance of success.” 

Asian Elephants are classified as endangered, with estimates suggesting about 40,000 remain in the wild. Their main threats include poaching, illegal trade, habitat loss and fragmentation, as well as human-elephant conflict. 

Visitors to Taronga Western Plains Zoo can make a difference for endangered species like Asian Elephants by visiting the Zoo, staying overnight, or buying a gift or special behind the scenes experience. 

“Taronga is not-for-profit, so every dollar you spend here at the Zoo has the power to protect wildlife,” Cameron said. 

To learn more about Taronga Western Plains Zoo’s Asian Elephant conservation breeding program, visitors can attend the free Asian Elephant Keeper Talk daily at 12pm or see up close how our keepers care for these amazing animals during the daily Elephant Experience. 

Taronga Western Plains Zoo is open 8.30am-4pm daily, with tickets valid for two consecutive days. For more information about planning a visit to Taronga Western Plains Zoo, or to purchase tickets online, visit www.taronga.org.au/dubbo-zoo.