Mila the elephant heading to the US

Media Statement
10 October 2012

Mila the elephant heading to the US

The Franklin Zoo Charitable Trust is very pleased to announce the recruitment of a world class elephant programme manager to facilitate the relocation of Mila, ex circus African elephant at Franklin Zoo & Wildlife Sanctuary in New Zealand to a facility in the US.

The new elephant manager is very experienced in protected contact elephant management and uses positive reinforcement to create a trust based relationship that will enable Mila to be trained for all behaviours necessary for her safe transport. This includes medical testing, crate desensitization, and basic health care.

We want to find a home for Mila that will allow her to socialize with other African elephants and will provide expert care as she ages. This elephant manager will not only facilitate Mila’s day to day care, but will also oversee the travel logistics and extensive permitting required to transport Mila to her new home.

The elephant manager is currently travelling around the appropriate facilities in the USA to ascertain the best facility to care for Mila’s individual welfare needs as well as dealing with the US biosecurity agencies. We anticipate her arrival in New Zealand towards the end of October or early November.

It is hoped that Mila will be ready to travel to her new home by March or April 2013 and the Franklin Zoo Charitable Trust will be fundraising for this very expensive and complex process.

Donations towards Mila’s care travel and future can be made on the web site www.franklinzoo.co.nz or please make cheques payable to: Franklin Zoo Charitable Trust, 83 Ridge Road, Tuakau RD 4, Auckland 2694, New Zealand.
Or by Direct Credit: Franklin Zoo Charitable Trust, The National Bank of New Zealand, Papakura branch account: 060401
0327303 00.

ZAA (Zoo and Aquarium Association of Australasia) have done a wonderful job facilitating and planning the re-homing for most of the exotic animals into facilities with the correct skill base to care for each animal’s individual welfare needs and Franklin Zoo Charitable Trust is extremely grateful to ZAA’s care and professional assistance to ensure the animals are going to be well taken care of.

The re-homing process will take some months and the Franklin Zoo & Wildlife Sanctuary continues to care for the animals while their new homes and travel arrangements are being prepared. All domestic animals are now safely installed in their new homes.

We are also very grateful to Auckland Zoo, who continues to provide expertise and support to the Franklin staff, Mila and to the Franklin Zoo & Wildlife Sanctuary.
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