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Perth Zoo’s last two remaining elephants are to be relocated to the Monarto Safari Park in South Australia.

The decision to relocate Putra Mas and Permai follows the death of Perth Zoo’s beloved elephant matriarch Tricia who died last year at the age of 65.

With Perth Zoo’s elephant facility too small to accommodate a herd under modern standards the remaining pair will be sent to Zoos SA’s Monarto Safari Park.

With Perth Zoo having planned since 2018 to rehome the elephants in a herd when their matriarch died, it announced on Thursday that Zoos Sa had started fundraising to build a new elephant habitat so it could welcome the Permai and Putra Mas.

Perth Zoo Manager John Lemon said the elephants needed to be moved to their new "forever home" because female Permai needed to be with other females after the death of Tricia and the Perth facility was too small for a herd.

Advising that its staff were experts on moving large animals from place to place, Lemon commented “it is a big logistical exercise, to plan to move to large mega-vertebrates like elephants.”

The new 15-hectare habitat is also expected to become a home for an elephant called Burma from New Zealand, and work is underway to add more elephants to the herd.

Lemon said the animals would be part of a managed program for Australia when they were relocated, which was estimated to happen in October 2024.

The death of Tricia, the oldest elephant to be cared for by a zoo in Australasia, prompted the change at Perth Zoo.

Lemon said it was a bittersweet moment for the zookeepers, who had a close relationship with the enormous creatures.

He added “but we're actually excited and happy (as) it's all about the elephants.

"Of course, we build these amazing relationships with elephants, but to see them go to their forever home and larger area, and they'll be in a natural social structure, we're excited."

Lemon said the animals would need to be conditioned to prepare for the journey and desensitised, using noise such as rattling chains.

Perth Zoo last year announced a $51 million redevelopment plan to upgrade the facility, including expansions to the African Savannah area that will house giraffes, zebra, ostriches, and guinea fowl together.

The upgrades will also include a Conservation Science Precinct, an Orangutan Rainforest Precinct, and a primate crossing of overhead ropes enabling gibbons to pass over visitors walking below.

Images: Perth Zoo’s beloved elephant matriarch Tricia who died last year at the age of 65 (top) and Tricia with fellow elephant Permai (below). Credit: Perth Zoo/Alex Cearn.

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