Perth Zoo advertises for special crates to move two Asian elephants

Move day for WA’s two biggest residents is progressing, with Perth Zoo seeking special containers to take its two Asian Elephants to a vast safari park in South Australia.

Long-held plans to relocate female elephant Permai and male Putra Mas to Montaro Safari Park ramped up when their matriarch, Tricia, passed away in 2022.

The zoo is tendering for two purpose-built transport crates — which have already been specially designed based on similar elephant transports around the world — to relocate Permai and Putra Mas,

Bids must be in by September 4.

“The current plan is for the elephants to be transferred to South Australia via air freight to ensure the fastest possible travel time between the two Zoos,” the tender reads.

“The elephants will be accompanied by Perth Zoo veterinary and keeping staff during their journey.”

The male crate must be 3.5 metres high 4.5 metres long and 2.1 metres wide, while the female crate has the same length and width but is slightly shorter at 3.25 metres high.

The animals have been preparing for months for their move to SA, with Perth Zoo previously revealing they would stay in WA at least till October and would not move until they were ready.

Once the giant mammals are gone, the Perth Zoo Masterplan’s African savanna plans will progress.

The new offering will include a habitat where giraffe, zebra, ostrich and guinea fowl can roam together as they would in the wild.

Visitors will also be able to see behind the scenes of the new giraffe quarters.

There are less than 50,000 Asian elephants left in the wild.