Dublin Zoo's elephants are to move to Germany as part of a plan to redevelop the exhibit and make space for a new breeding group of elephants from Rotterdam Zoo, it was announced today.
The elephants, Judy and Kirsty, are past breeding age and will move in mid-September to join a lone female elephant in Neunkirchen Zoo.
Speaking about the move today, Dublin Zoo director Leo Oosterweghel said: "Unfortunately, Kirsty and Judy, our two existing elephants, are well past breeding age. We have therefore not been in a position to participate in the European programme.
"In recent months, two events have happened to change that situation. Firstly, we were offered a breeding group by Rotterdam Zoo. Almost simultaneously we found that Neunkirchen Zoo in Germany was looking for a companion for a lone female elephant they had," he said.
Dublin Zoo plans to redevelop the elephant exhibit over 12 to 15 months, and it says the redevelopment will increase the size of the exhibit by 50 per cent and include a riverbed and a large pool.
Feeding points will also be scattered throughout to ensure the elephants are stimulated to walk and explore.
The zoo also said it has been offered three elephants from Rotterdam Zoo -Bernadine (20), Jasmine (12) and Jasmine's calf, Anak. The elephants would be allowed settle into Dublin Zoo before later bringing in a bull elephant as part of the breeding programme.
"Judy and Kirsty's new home is a spacious new exhibit, with an indoor heated pool and a large outdoor area. It will also mean that the lone elephant in Germany will now have some company. We have no doubt that they will thoroughly enjoy their new surroundings", said Mr Oosterweghel.
