OPINION: One of Perth Zoo’s elephants is settling into her new home in South Australia while another prepares to make the journey east mid-year.
As far as elephants go, Tricia was one of a kind. The ‘face’ of the elephants at Perth Zoo, she has been greatly missed since her passing in July 2022.
During that time, all those involved with the zoo have been coming to terms with her loss and thinking about what it means for our two remaining elephants, Permai and Putra Mas.
As I wrote in Business News last year, our focus is on doing what is best for the elephants, who have many years of life ahead of them. This meant finding a regional solution that better replicated natural living conditions and social structures to ensure the best environment for them to thrive.
We agreed to a cooperative effort in which the elephants will be foundational members of a new herd at Monarto Safari Park in South Australia.
Anyone visiting Perth Zoo could see that Permai was lost without Tricia, despite her keepers’ tender care. On welfare grounds, it was decided that she should be moved as soon as possible.
Saying goodbye was always going to be a challenge, as was the complexity of the move, which involved a detailed project plan covering logistics, animal care, and the needs of our people during and after the move.
From the moment Permai was lifted in her purpose-built crate onto the truck in January this year, the team moving her, including keepers, veterinarians, and support staff, were on high alert.
The convoy drove nonstop to get Permai to Monarto Safari Park, passing well-wishers greeting them along the way.
While the team was en route, I arrived in Adelaide (at my own expense) to be present for Permai’s first few days, knowing how emotionally charged the move was.
I was joined by fellow board member and wildlife, zoology, and conservation medicine expert Kris Warren, who has known the elephants since they were infants.
After well-deserved stretches for our team after more than 40 hours on the road, the crate was lifted into place. As Permai’s keepers encouraged her to enter the newly renovated and extended elephant barn, we had tears in our eyes as we witnessed her first steps in the next chapter of her life.
Founding herd member Burma, the lone elephant from Auckland Zoo who had arrived a few months earlier, rested patiently by a waterhole under the shade of a tree with one of the keepers while Permai took in her new surroundings.
Later that day, the two elephants met, and their tentative embrace of trunks went viral, capturing the attention of people around the globe and becoming a powerful symbol of hope and belonging.
This meeting wasn’t just about two elephants but about Permai finding companionship and building the relationships she’d been missing since Tricia’s passing.
Each day brings discoveries for Permai. She’s exploring the spacious ‘clover leaf’ habitat and ventures out in the evening to explore. Permai is gaining familiarity with her new barn, which results in her lying down and sleeping longer at night.
During a recent storm, Permai and Burma sought comfort in one another, indicating that their trust and bond are developing. Small moments like these signify big leaps in Permai’s journey. Though it’s only been a couple of months since her arrival, glimpses of the playful Permai we know and love are starting to emerge.
Permai is ticketholder number two in the elephant herd at Monarto Safari Park. During the year, she and Burma will be joined by three additional companions: two from Taronga Zoo, and Perth Zoo’s Putra Mas.
The dedicated team at Monarto Safari Park includes Perth Zoo keeper Jody, who has been by Permai’s side and will stay there for months to help Putra Mas settle in once he arrives.
Permai’s journey is a reminder that growth often stems from change, even when it’s bittersweet.
We all miss her at Perth Zoo but seeing her begin to adjust to her new home confirms that we made the right decision. This is just the beginning of Permai’s next adventure, which promises comfort, companionship, and the rediscovery of her vibrant, playful spirit.
The Perth Zoo team is now preparing Putra Mas for his journey mid-year. This will be the last step in what is a loss for us here in Western Australia but is, as I say, what is best for the elephants: living out their days together in the best environment possible while remaining as close by as practical.
• Marion Fulker is an executive coach and mentor, chair of Perth Zoo, and the WA chair of Smartgroup
