1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:04,040 Speaker 1: Big piece of the jigsaw is on its way to 2 00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 1: South Australia, and I'm talking about elephants. That's why Big 3 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:13,280 Speaker 1: Pootra Mass is the name of an elephant coming from 4 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:17,000 Speaker 1: Perth Zoo to South Australia to Minardo Zoo. Four elephants 5 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:19,919 Speaker 1: are already here. He will be the fifth and he's 6 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 1: the only male as well to keep the other elephants 7 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:26,400 Speaker 1: company on those caller winter nights out at Manato. But 8 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 1: he is coming out and we will have a herd, 9 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:32,680 Speaker 1: a real proper herd of elephants at Minardo Zoo for 10 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 1: the first time an elephant's been there since what the 11 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 1: nineteen eighties or early nineties at least the best part 12 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 1: of thirty plus years. Amazing. Let's have a chat with 13 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:45,080 Speaker 1: Daniel Henry, who is Community Engagement Director at Perth Zoo 14 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:48,639 Speaker 1: and Pootra Mass on his way now crossing the Nullaboars 15 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 1: somewhere between here and there. Daniel, Good evening, Thank you 16 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:52,600 Speaker 1: for your time. 17 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:55,319 Speaker 2: Good evening, Hi man, how are you all right? 18 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: Thank you? What can you tell us? Where is he? 19 00:00:57,640 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: Where's the crew? And I mean there'd be a lot 20 00:00:59,880 --> 00:01:03,280 Speaker 1: of preparation for this, but let's hear it certainly on 21 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: his way. 22 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 2: He is absolutely on his way. So it's been a 23 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:10,399 Speaker 2: jumbo day over here in Western Australia as you can imagine. 24 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 2: But they've just stopped in Meredon, which is about two 25 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 2: hundred and sixty kilometers east of Persos, roughly between Perth 26 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 2: and Calgooley environment. 27 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:21,040 Speaker 1: Okay, spending the night there or do they keep moving? 28 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 2: So they keep actually moving. So we've got multiple drivers 29 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 2: on this journey, so what's going to do is keep 30 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 2: it is safe but as quick as possible that we 31 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:31,880 Speaker 2: can put masts from Perth to South Australia. So our 32 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 2: whole aim to get him there as quickly as possible 33 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 2: so he can get out of the freedom. 34 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:38,839 Speaker 1: Yeah, I bet he can't wait to do that after 35 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 1: it was probably what three days at least, I imagine. 36 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, So I'm hoping to roll into Manado hopefully around 37 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 2: about lunchtime on Wednesday. But he's absolutely traveling in comfort, 38 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 2: so he's got a custom bill create he's got all 39 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 2: his favorite snacks on board, so he's already had a 40 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 2: snack of watermelon and some bamboo at Meriden, and he's 41 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 2: been drinking all the way along the road way as well, 42 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 2: and also all of his caregivers, who's got his most 43 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 2: trusted zookeepers and the bet Y team with him as well, 44 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:08,919 Speaker 2: so he'll probably actually be a lot more comfortable than 45 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:10,359 Speaker 2: the team who's in the bus Bologne. 46 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 1: What sort of preparation goes in for this, because I know, 47 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 1: and I've heard it here from Nada as well, the 48 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:20,639 Speaker 1: elephants get trained, they get pulled in, they get taken out. 49 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 1: You know, this is the routine, elephant, this is what's 50 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: going to happen to you, so get used to it. 51 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 1: And that's probably been going on for months, I imagine. 52 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:29,800 Speaker 2: It has, so Putramus has been doing, oh I reckon, 53 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 2: about six months of training to get him to today. 54 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 2: He's an exceptionally smart elephant, is very very intelligent, so 55 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 2: it didn't take him long to get his great training 56 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:42,520 Speaker 2: down pat but we've absolutely been on his timescale. So 57 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 2: as soon as he felt comfortable and secure in that crate, 58 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 2: we wanted him to see that as his safe place, 59 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:49,960 Speaker 2: and he let us know when that was and today 60 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 2: with certainly today, but we kept this morning as normal 61 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:56,360 Speaker 2: as possible. We went through his normal morning routine, walked 62 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:58,560 Speaker 2: him into his crate like it was a training day. 63 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:00,799 Speaker 2: But today we close the doors and then hit the road, 64 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 2: so he's absolutely comfortable and he's ready to go, and 65 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 2: hopefully we'll get to the other end and he'll be 66 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:09,639 Speaker 2: delighted to step out into this new habitat at Manado 67 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:10,440 Speaker 2: Safari Park. 68 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, and that must be pretty cool. I mean when 69 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 1: you think of all these animals coming together from well 70 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 1: different parts of the world. Really, but this is the 71 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 1: second one from Perth, isn't it the second elephant? 72 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 2: It is? So we moved on Permia for our female 73 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 2: over to Manatto in January of this year. They did 74 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 2: live separately, so bill elephants typically live either by themselves 75 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 2: or in loose bachelor herds. So although he didn't live 76 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 2: with per Mai, they definitely live side by side. So 77 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:40,320 Speaker 2: we're interested to see what she thinks when he rolls 78 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 2: in on Wednesday afternoon. 79 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:44,200 Speaker 1: That will be interesting see if there's a reunion or not. 80 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:46,600 Speaker 1: So are you aware of how it's going to work here? 81 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 1: Will he be segregated here I imagine probably will be 82 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 1: or do they get a big space to roam around him? 83 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 2: So the elephant have aitat at Minato is just so exciting. 84 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 2: It's got multiple different areas, but he's got his own 85 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 2: bachelor hurt. However, the habitat is actually almost as big 86 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:06,840 Speaker 2: as the entirety of persu so there is opportunity for 87 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 2: him to socialize with the other elephants if he chooses to, 88 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 2: or if the females will even let him. It's often 89 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 2: that's the case that the females they live in their 90 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 2: matriarchal societies, and they very much rule the roofs. They 91 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 2: tell the boys when or when or when they do 92 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 2: not want their company. 93 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:24,040 Speaker 1: Right, how about that? All right? So the great now 94 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 1: it must be well a wide load obviously, but how 95 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:31,840 Speaker 1: does it work? So it must be a conditioned I 96 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 1: imagine because he's crossing the nulla boar and even though 97 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:36,040 Speaker 1: it's not the hottest of times at the moment, it 98 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 1: still can get stifling in the crape. 99 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 2: Yeah. Absolutely, so it's themastatically controlled. Who's traveling in twenty 100 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:48,280 Speaker 2: one to three air conditioning comfort. It has been specifically 101 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:51,559 Speaker 2: built for him. He weighs about five times so he's 102 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 2: possibly one of the biggest bull elephants. He's definitely the 103 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 2: biggest in Australia, but he's possibly one of the biggest 104 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:01,839 Speaker 2: that ever made. This distance. We think probably one of 105 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 2: the largest recorded transfers of the boil ifant anywhere in 106 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:06,599 Speaker 2: the world. 107 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:08,919 Speaker 1: Goodness, how old is he? 108 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:10,039 Speaker 2: He's thirty five years old? 109 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:11,719 Speaker 1: Is he all right? What's the lifespan? 110 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 2: He's still got quite a number of years ahead of him. 111 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 2: And that's why we're so excited to get him to 112 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 2: Minardo Safari Park. That will be his fair ever home. 113 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 2: So for him to have such an expansive habitat, to 114 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:25,800 Speaker 2: have the opportunity to engage with the females, to be 115 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 2: able to play in the water holes, we know that 116 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:29,919 Speaker 2: his long life that's the ahead of him is just 117 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 2: going to be absolutely fantastic. 118 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:34,279 Speaker 1: Yeah, it will be good wanted, I mean, will have 119 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 1: his forever home, as you say, and it is purpose made, 120 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:40,960 Speaker 1: so that is brilliant. So just the one male though 121 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:45,680 Speaker 1: to four females. Is that standard around the place for 122 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: zoos I suppose in the world. Well, it's vastly different 123 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 1: to that, isn't It's just whatever the numbers are. 124 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 2: He's absolutely a lucky boy. But as I said previously, 125 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:58,919 Speaker 2: normally the boys believe in a solitary existence or in 126 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:01,920 Speaker 2: very loose bachelor herds, and they only really come together 127 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 2: with the females when it's breeding season. So this is 128 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:08,359 Speaker 2: absolutely normal kind of social grouping and that's what we 129 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 2: try to emulate within a modern day zoo setting. 130 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:15,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, amazing. So Asian elephants, aren't they My memory serves correctly, 131 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 1: so they're the smaller elephant than the African. But nevertheless 132 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 1: they are social animals, aren't they on the whole? 133 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:29,719 Speaker 2: They are definitely, they're very social creatures, the females in particular, 134 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 2: and this is why forming this new regional herd in 135 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 2: Manato Sasari path is just so exciting for all of 136 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:37,719 Speaker 2: us within Australia. By able to get a couple of 137 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:41,160 Speaker 2: females who are living by themselves after their companions elephants 138 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 2: have passed away, we can bring together a whole entire 139 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 2: new herd and create these social dynamics that it's been 140 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 2: really looking forward to. 141 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 1: Danielle, I don't know if you know what's going to 142 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:53,840 Speaker 1: happen here at Manato in terms of when can people 143 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:57,120 Speaker 1: go and see the herd? Are they are they visible 144 00:06:57,200 --> 00:06:58,840 Speaker 1: now as buses rumble through. 145 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 2: I believe the females are visible now, But that's the 146 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 2: question for the zoos. Asday crew with the females. Obviously, 147 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:09,400 Speaker 2: it takes time to build those relationships, just like humans. 148 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 2: So when you've moved across the country, when you go 149 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 2: into a new town and you're forming your relationships, it 150 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 2: definitely takes time. We've put from Mouse will give him 151 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 2: time to settle into his habitat, so he'll go into 152 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 2: his night quarters in the first instance, he'll have some 153 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 2: time just to get used to all the different sounds, 154 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:29,440 Speaker 2: the smells, the environment before he takes his tentative steps outside. 155 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 2: But it'll be very much led by him and very 156 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:33,160 Speaker 2: much led by the rest of the elephants. 157 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 1: What's his history, Daniella, it was I don't imagine he 158 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 1: was born at pers so you would have got him 159 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 1: from somewhere perhaps. 160 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:42,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, he was an orphan elephant in Malaysia and he 161 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:45,160 Speaker 2: came to us in the early nineties. So many of 162 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 2: our keepers who are still with us today they've worked 163 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 2: with Putchmouse since he was a little elephant. So we've 164 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:53,680 Speaker 2: actually got a gentleman who's on the bus transferring across 165 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 2: to South Australia who was here when he arrived in 166 00:07:57,200 --> 00:08:00,040 Speaker 2: Wa so he saw him into pursue and now he 167 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 2: is doing the return journey and seeking him too fair 168 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 2: of a home in South Australia. So it's a nice 169 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 2: little clothing chapter to that gentleman's career. But to say 170 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 2: goodbye to these animals, obviously we form very very close bonds. 171 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:15,480 Speaker 2: Working with an elephant is unlike any other animal that 172 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:19,600 Speaker 2: you work with. They're incredibly smart, they're incredibly credibly social 173 00:08:19,640 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 2: and you have to earn their respect in their love, 174 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 2: and so for us to say goodbye, it's a bittersweet. 175 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 2: There's the definitely been some tears over here today, but 176 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 2: we know that we are absolutely doing the best thing thing. 177 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, let's hope his journey is uneventful on the 178 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 1: way over. I'm sure it will be. This is not 179 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 1: the first we've transported across the country, and certainly the 180 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:42,320 Speaker 1: second from the west. So you have no more elephants 181 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 1: there now, is that correct? 182 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 2: That's correct. We've closed out a chapter here in Western 183 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 2: Australia where said goodbye to the elephants. But we actually 184 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:52,480 Speaker 2: made that decision in twenty eighteen, so it's been a 185 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 2: long time coming. We've been planning for it for quite 186 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:57,720 Speaker 2: some time, but the decision was made because we need 187 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:00,320 Speaker 2: to do what's best for them and are now metropolitan site. 188 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 2: We just can't accommodate a whole massive herd of elephants, 189 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:06,559 Speaker 2: which obviously Minodo Safari Park with a habitat that's almost 190 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:09,440 Speaker 2: as big as our entire zoo can do. And so 191 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 2: we're just so thrilled to be as to work with 192 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 2: our colleagues in South Australia and provide that for them. 193 00:09:14,080 --> 00:09:16,840 Speaker 1: You talk about the keepers, you know, shedding a tear. 194 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 1: I imagine over the last few weeks you would have 195 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:21,840 Speaker 1: had extra visitors to the zoo to have a last 196 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:22,680 Speaker 1: look at the elephant. 197 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:26,240 Speaker 2: Oh. Absolutely, Matt. We've had so many visitors come in 198 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:29,200 Speaker 2: to say their farewells as well. It's not just a 199 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 2: bittersweet for us, it's a bit of sweet for our 200 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:34,120 Speaker 2: community as well. But we have been bringing them along 201 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:36,199 Speaker 2: for this journey and we've been letting them know why 202 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:38,800 Speaker 2: we've made this decision, and on the most part, our 203 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:42,719 Speaker 2: community absolutely are supportive and completely understand. They want to 204 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:45,040 Speaker 2: see these animals thriving, They want to see them living 205 00:09:45,040 --> 00:09:47,720 Speaker 2: their best life and they absolutely know that Manoa Safari 206 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:49,199 Speaker 2: Park is the place for that to occur. 207 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 1: All right, do we give you anything in exchange from 208 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:54,240 Speaker 1: zoo's esa. Did you get a couple of iguanas? And 209 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 1: I don't know among to you or something. 210 00:09:56,679 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 2: It's not quite the way that it works man, But yeah, 211 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:02,560 Speaker 2: we're obviously looking at what other animals we can bring 212 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 2: into our zoo and we're part of a much bigger 213 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:07,080 Speaker 2: jigsaw puzzle, so we work very closely with the zoos 214 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:09,319 Speaker 2: all over Australia, actually all over the globe. 215 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:11,719 Speaker 1: We might kick a couple of pandas your wave, they 216 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 1: don't do the job. These two ones. Good on your Dannyel, 217 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 1: thank you very much for your time today and look 218 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:22,640 Speaker 1: forward to seeing put tramas the fifth Asian elephant to 219 00:10:22,720 --> 00:10:24,680 Speaker 1: arrive at Minado Zoo in the coming days. 220 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:26,600 Speaker 2: Thank you, thanks many. 221 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:30,840 Speaker 1: Daniel Henry there, who is the Community Engagement Director at 222 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 1: Perth Zoo