Despite its long neck, a giraffe has only 7 neck bones – the same number as you do.
Our Elephant Program - insights from the elephant keepers
About their home
The elephant exhibit for our female herd is part of the 'Wild Asia' precinct of Taronga Zoo. Visitor's are led on a journey through this precinct along an immersive trail which starts at the elephant barn and leads to other exhibits inhabited by species found throughout South-East Asia. 'Wild Asia' is designed to teach visitor's about the different habitats of the rainforest - from the tree-top canopy down the shaded forest floor - and why it is so important to protect these habitats.
Our breeding facility which houses our young male elephant has been constructed on the former site of the heritage listed elephant temple. This site now combines modern design with the charm of the original temple. Today, rather than housing elephants the heritage listed temple is open to the public providing visitors a glimpse into the past with information on the long history of elephants at Taronga Zoo.
Both elephant exhibits at Taronga Zoo contain large barns equipped with radiant heaters and hot & cold water facilities. The elephants have access to these barns and the surrounding exhibits throughout the night. The exhibits features deep and shallow swimming pools, mud wallows, sleeping mounds, shaded areas, scratching posts and logs and many enrichment items that keep the elephants active and stimulated. Regular walks around the Zoo grounds and daily play sessions with our Keepers are also designed for exercise and physical activity.
Baths
Bath-time happens every day and it is an important time for elephants and keepers. While the elephants are thoroughly cleaned the main focus of these baths is to maintain and strengthen the very close bonds and trust between an elephant and keeper. Once clean the bath also gives us a chance to check the elephants thoroughly, incorporating a teeth and foot check. Our elephants have been around people from the day they were born and they thrive on attention and interaction. This bath-time activity allows us to provide plenty of that.
During this time we provide useful and detailed information on elephants and their conservation issues to the many visitors who come to watch.
Photo: Jeff Darmanin
Play Sessions
The play sessions we do with our elephants are very important to their physical and mental health. While providing important opportunities for elephants and keepers to work together and strengthen their relationships, the games and activities we do all help with balance, co-ordination, dexterity and problem-solving skills. Things like pushing tyres, pulling logs, catching, throwing and kicking balls are all fun and are done purely for the elephants' entertainment and enjoyment.
These sessions allow both our elephants and keepers to provide information to zoo visitors on the history of elephants and humans. This presentation details to visitors what elephants have been used for over the centuries, what they are used for today as well as the dangers and threats to the species' future survival.
Photo: Jeff Darmanin
Enrichment
Photo: Bradd Johnston
As social animals the best enrichment for elephants is contact with other elephants. Having five elephants (4 females & 1 male) is the nucleus of a small natural herd.
The exhibits in which our elephants live include deep and shallow pools, mud wallows and dirt mounds. These features allow the elephants to swim, roll around and wrestle together. These natural behaviours and activities strengthen the very close family bonds our elephants have formed and while it is all good fun, this also ensures they get plenty of activity and exercise.
As well as these exhibit features we provide many enrichment toys for our elephants to play and have fun with. Things such as tyres, boomer balls, drilled bamboo pieces, plastic barrels, bungee apparatus can all be used at different times to exercise and enrich our elephants.
Walks
Photo: Lucy Melo
Morning walks are a great way for the elephants to explore the rest of the Zoo and are done early in the morning before the hustle and bustle of visiting hours.
These walks are good exercise for our elephants and are only possible due to the very close relationship and levels of trust our elephants have with their keepers.
At other times, the elephants walk throughout their exhibit, which include multiple paddocks traversing hillside slopes.
Foot Trimming
Trimming and filing of the elephants' toenails and pads is done on a regular basis. Similar to horses, elephants' feet grow continuously. In captivity we file their nails to ensure that the edges are raised and weight is not exerted on them while the elephants are walking or playing. By doing this we minimise cracks in the nails.
This husbandry activity is a co-operative activity and further strengthens the bonds and trust in the elephant and keeper relationship.
