An entire herd of Asian elephants have made a historic move from Melbourne Zoo to Werribee Open Range Zoo - sharing an emotional reunion as they explored their expansive, new, world-class habitat for the first time.
In a remarkable logistical feat, nine elephants, including three calves, were carefully transported 40-kilometers in three separate cohorts, completing the journey safely over the course of five days in February 2025.
The new $88 million, 21-hectare Elephant Trail is designed to elevate the visitor experience while prioritising animal welfare and is unlike anything seen at a zoo before.
It has six large habitats with mud wallows fit for roaming, foraging and socialising, and is the same size as Melbourne Zoo's entire footprint, or the equivalent to five MCG playing fields.
It also includes two mega pools that collectively hold nearly two-million litres of water and offer approximately 1,300m² of swimmable space. Two specially designed elephant barns are equipped with state-of-the-art healthcare training spaces and a communal sleeping area filled with 3,300 tonnes of sand.
Additionally, two impressive overpasses will allow the elephants to cross over visitor walking trails, providing the herd with choice to move between habitats and offers a visitor experience that will be nothing short of extraordinary.
Keep an eye on Zoos Victoria’s social media channels for updates about when the Elephant Trail will be open to public.
