Anjalee: A gracious gift
Burma’s new companion, eight-year-old Asian elephant Anjalee, is due to arrive at Auckland Zoo in mid-late June 2015. The pair will be gradually introduced to each other, and it is expected that 32-year-old Burma will take on the role of matriarch - much like an older aunty.
Anjalee is the first of two elephants that will be coming to Auckland Zoo from Sri Lanka’s Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, which is currently overcrowded with animals. Following a 12-hour flight to Auckland Airport, the second leg of her journey was on a New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) C-130 Hercules to Niue, where she is quarantined for a required 90-day period before coming to Auckland Zoo.
“Niue has worked closely with Auckland Zoo on this project, which is providing employment as well as educational opportunities. Our school children will be able to engage with Anjalee's keepers, and watch her train and exercise from a special viewing platform,” says Nuie Premier Toke Talagi.
“Elephants are extraordinarily powerful ambassadors for wildlife and the natural world, one of the many reasons we believe in the importance of ensuring elephants remain at Auckland Zoo,” says Auckland Zoo director, Jonathan Wilcken.
ABOUT ANJALEE
Species: Asian elephant (Elephas maximus)
Gender: Female
Date of Birth: August 23, 2006
Place of Birth: Sri Lanka: Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
Current height: 2 metres
Current weight: 1600kg
Personality:
At eight years old, Anjalee is a very playful and inquisitive young elephant. For her age, she is quite independent and confident. Auckland Zoo’s Elephant team leader Andrew Coers who has worked closely with Anjalee for the past six months, describes her as having an inner security and independence that is helping immensely in preparing her for her move to Auckland Zoo.
Loves: “Anjalee absolutely loves to dust bathe and get dirty, especially when she’s wet from a hose-down or swim,” says Andrew. “And when it comes to her training, like most elephants, including Burma, she is very switched on and clever.”
Food: Anjalee loves bananas, watermelon and pineapple
Mood: When relaxed, will often cross her back legs
Dislikes: birds getting around and under her feet!
Anjalee, whose name means ‘Gracious gift’, was born in 2006 at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. This is located just northwest of Kegalle town in Sri Lanka’s Sabaragamuwa Province.
Anjalee’s mother, a rescued orphan injured in the wild, came to the orphanage with a severe injury to her hind leg. This injury meant she would never have been able to survive back in the wild. She has also had other offspring at Pinnawala. Anjalee’s father was born at Pinnawala - through the orphanage’s captive breeding programme.
Anjalee has been living separated from her mother and in other elephant company for the past three and half years, due to her mother being bullied out of the main herd.
She is gradually getting introduced to some key aspects of Auckland Zoo’s world renowned free-contact elephant programme.
Burma’s new companion, eight-year-old Asian elephant Anjalee, is due to arrive at Auckland Zoo in mid-late June 2015. The pair will be gradually introduced to each other, and it is expected that 32-year-old Burma will take on the role of matriarch - much like an older aunty.
Anjalee is the first...
Burma’s new companion, eight-year-old Asian elephant Anjalee, is due to arrive at Auckland Zoo in mid-late June 2015. The pair will be gradually introduced to each other, and it is expected that 32-year-old Burma will take on the role of matriarch - much like an older aunty.
Anjalee is the first of two elephants that will be coming to Auckland Zoo from Sri Lanka’s Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, which is currently overcrowded with animals. Following a 12-hour flight to Auckland Airport, the second leg of her journey was on a New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) C-130 Hercules to Niue, where she is quarantined for a required 90-day period before coming to Auckland Zoo.
“Niue has worked closely with Auckland Zoo on this project, which is providing employment as well as educational opportunities. Our school children will be able to engage with Anjalee's keepers, and watch her train and exercise from a special viewing platform,” says Nuie Premier Toke Talagi.
“Elephants are extraordinarily powerful ambassadors for wildlife and the natural world, one of the many reasons we believe in the importance of ensuring elephants remain at Auckland Zoo,” says Auckland Zoo director, Jonathan Wilcken.
ABOUT ANJALEE
Species: Asian elephant (Elephas maximus)
Gender: Female
Date of Birth: August 23, 2006
Place of Birth: Sri Lanka: Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
Current height: 2 metres
Current weight: 1600kg
Personality:
At eight years old, Anjalee is a very playful and inquisitive young elephant. For her age, she is quite independent and confident. Auckland Zoo’s Elephant team leader Andrew Coers who has worked closely with Anjalee for the past six months, describes her as having an inner security and independence that is helping immensely in preparing her for her move to Auckland Zoo.
Loves: “Anjalee absolutely loves to dust bathe and get dirty, especially when she’s wet from a hose-down or swim,” says Andrew. “And when it comes to her training, like most elephants, including Burma, she is very switched on and clever.”
Food: Anjalee loves bananas, watermelon and pineapple
Mood: When relaxed, will often cross her back legs
Dislikes: birds getting around and under her feet!
Anjalee, whose name means ‘Gracious gift’, was born in 2006 at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. This is located just northwest of Kegalle town in Sri Lanka’s Sabaragamuwa Province.
Anjalee’s mother, a rescued orphan injured in the wild, came to the orphanage with a severe injury to her hind leg. This injury meant she would never have been able to survive back in the wild. She has also had other offspring at Pinnawala. Anjalee’s father was born at Pinnawala - through the orphanage’s captive breeding programme.
Anjalee has been living separated from her mother and in other elephant company for the past three and half years, due to her mother being bullied out of the main herd.
She is gradually getting introduced to some key aspects of Auckland Zoo’s world renowned free-contact elephant programme.
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