Subscribe to RSSDealing To Elephant In Room
Plans for the future of elephants in Auckland took a step forward today.
The Auckland City Council’s arts, culture and recreation Committee has endorsed a proposal, which would see the Auckland Zoo incorporate two areas of Western Springs Lakeside Park for the establishment of an elephant herd.
The proposed areas, which run adjacent to the Zoo’s current elephant enclosure, will include an exercise area, a new elephant bull house, a public viewing area and boardwalk.
Chairperson of the Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee, Councillor Greg Moyle says, “extending the elephant’s area will mean that not only do zoo visitors get to see these amazing animals, visitors to one of Auckland’s favourite open spaces will as well”.
Asian elephants are highly intelligent and social animals that form close bonds between other individuals within the herd. Auckland Zoo has one non-breeding female elephant, Burma. Burma’s companion Kashin died in August 2009.
Burma needs companionship for her continued health and welfare, which is being closely monitored, and the zoo is committed to the development of an elephant herd at Auckland Zoo.
Chairman of the Zoo Board, Councillor Graeme Mulholland says, “Auckland Zoo is the only place where New Zealanders can view Asian elephants. The endorsement of this proposal is an exciting step in ensuring this continues”.
The new elephant space will require a change to the Auckland District Plan. This will be a publicly notified plan change process. It is anticipated that the plan change will be notified later in the year.
1 Comments
Quote “Chairperson of the Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee, Councillor Greg Moyle says, “extending the elephant’s area will mean that not only do zoo visitors get to see these amazing animals, visitors to one of Auckland’s favourite open spaces will as well”. ”
Is he willing to give that in writing? I can see the zoo making damn sure that the elephants won’t be visible from a public (i.e. visitors need not pay to enter) area.
Apart from being a bit doubtful on that, I don’t really have strong views on that, but then I haven’t seen any plans as to how much bigger the zoo would get.