Elephants interacting well as first phase of construction nears completion
SAXONWOLD – All three elephants were released into the main enclosure together from 12 September, three months after the new elephants were introduced.
Elephant enrichment officer at the Johannesburg Zoo Candice Ward said the three elephants are interacting well after being released into the same enclosure on 12 September, three months after Mopani (19) and Ramadiba (22) arrived from the Eastern Cape on 13 June in order to become companions to matriarch Lammie (40).
The zoo adopted a soft introduction process, allowing the elephants to interact over a fence for the initial months before all three elephants were placed together in the boma on 11 September.
“Lammie displayed all the behaviours we wanted to see. She waited for Ramadiba and Mopani to finish their feed. Once she had seen that they had finished eating, she backed towards them, interacting first with Mopani and later Ramadiba,” said Ward.
“No frustration or aggression was observed. Lammie and Ramadiba later entwined their trunks and shared their food.”
Watch as Ward discusses elephant integration:
The following day, when the elephants were all released into the same larger enclosure, Ward noted a number of good interactions.
“They all went to their feeding stations and fed separately and then shared their feed together. Once they were finished with their food, Ramadiba and Mopani swam in the dam and rolled around in the mud. Lammie later followed, splashing herself with water.”
Ward said that since the new elephants were well trained before arriving at the zoo and Lammie was already comfortable in the environment, all the plans of the zoo staff succeeded.
“I don’t think we could have hoped for a better introduction,” said Ward.
Construction began on 23 September to create some improvements to the elephant enclosure. These include mounds for elephants to rub themselves, a concrete swimming pool overflowing into a mud wallow, a sand bath, landscaping of the existing dam and the growth of wild grass in the enclosure.
Ward explained that these improvements form part of the first phase of the upgrade process, which should be completed by the end of October.
“We are waiting for the completion of the rhino enclosure before we begin the next phase to expand the enclosure. This should be completed early next year.”
Related articles:
Joburg Zoo insists all processes were followed to obtain two new elephants
Outrage over zoo spending over R1.5 million to acquire new elephants
