Elephant Anjalee is on her way to Auckland Zoo

Elephant Anjalee is on her way! Introducing Burma's new elephant companion

Auckland Zoo is delighted to announce that an eight-year-old Asian elephant named Anjalee has begun her journey to join the Zoo's 32-year-old female elephant Burma.

Anjalee is the first of two elephants that will be coming to Auckland Zoo from Sri Lanka’s Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage; at 7 o’clock (NZT) she boarded an Emirates freighter plane in Colombo.

Following a 12-hour flight to Auckland Airport, she will continue the second leg of her journey on a New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) C-130 Hercules to Niue, where she will be quarantined for a required 90-day period before coming to Auckland Zoo.

“It is with great excitement that we’re able to start telling everyone about Anjalee,” says Auckland Zoo director Jonathan Wilcken. “She is a lovely elephant and we believe will be a great companion for Burma. Everyone involved, especially our elephant team, have all worked tirelessly to make this happen. It’s been an enormously complex undertaking but we all believe so strongly that we can give Anjalee a great home, Burma a companion and continue to support important elephant conservation efforts in the wild.”

Auckland Zoo is working in partnership with Sri Lanka’s Department of National Zoological Gardens, who manage Pinnawala’s currently overcrowded elephant orphanage. Zoo staff have been working in cooperation with Pinnawala staff for the past six months to begin transitioning Anjalee to the Zoo’s world-renowned elephant programme.

Sir Don McKinnon, Chairman of Regional Facilities Auckland (which manages Auckland Zoo on behalf of Auckland Council), said he is delighted the elephant is finally on her way.

“We have worked closely with the Sri Lankan, Niue and New Zealand governments to facilitate this and I am grateful for the support we have received along the way. Anjalee will have a wonderful life at Auckland Zoo where she will be loved, protected and stimulated, as well as having the companionship of our revered matriarch Burma. I am proud of the fact the Zoo’s elephant programme is considered one of the world’s best,” Sir Don said.

Niue Premier, Toke Talagi, says the people of Niue are looking forward with great excitement to welcoming Anjalee to the island. Her presence is expected to boost Niue's growing tourism sector.

“Niue has worked closely with Auckland Zoo on this project, which is providing employment as well as educational opportunities. Our school children will be able to engage with Anjalee's keepers, and watch her train and exercise from a special viewing platform,” says Premier Talagi.

Children outside Niue will also be able to engage with Anjalee’s keepers, as Auckland Zoo will be posting regular updates online.

“We want to bring everyone along with us on this incredible journey to bring Anjalee to Auckland,” says director Jonathan Wilcken. “Sometimes people can feel removed from species and conservation issues that are not in their own backyard. However, species like elephants are just as much in need of their help. Elephants are extraordinarily powerful ambassadors for wildlife and the natural world, one of the many reasons we believe in the importance of ensuring elephants remain at Auckland Zoo.

"Auckland Zoo contributes over $1 million a year to help protect and conserve wildlife, and we are very grateful and proud to say that a large percentage of this conservation funding comes directly from each and every one of our visitors as part of their admission.”

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