Permai the elephant begins 2000km journey from Perth Zoo to South Australia

It’s a sad day at Perth Zoo as they lose another elephant following the death of matriarch Tricia in 2022.

But this time it’s for happier reasons as 37-year-old Permai is being relocated to a safari-like open habitat in South Australia where she will also gain some new friends.

The elephant, one of two left at Perth Zoo after the passing of 65-year-old Tricia, will begin the mammoth 2000km journey across the Nullarbor on Monday where she will be greeted on the other side by Burma, a fellow female elephant who moved there recently from New Zealand.

Her Perth roommate, Putra Mas, will also join them later in the year, as will two Asian elephants relocating there from Sydney’s Taronga Zoo.

Perth Zoo Life Sciences Director John Lemon said Permai had struggled since the passing of Tricia as female elephants in particular needed the company of others.

“We know it’s the right thing to do, so deep down we just keep coming back to the welfare, and it’s all about welfare,” he told 9 News Perth.

Zoo officials made the decision to rehome all of Perth’s elephants back in 2018 because the South Perth enclosure is too small and not able to be extended.

In contrast, Monarto Safari Park near Adelaide, the largest open-range safari experience outside of Africa, has created a 12 hectare enclosure replicating a more natural habitat. It also means more elephants can live there and have a herd-like existence.

Since the decision to move Perth’s remaining two elephants began, preparations began for their journey.