The elephants are migrating, will you help us pack their trunks?
As our valued supporter, we warmly welcome you to register for this free event launching Zoos Victoria's End of Financial Year Campaign to move our precious Asian Elephant herd to their new home at Werribee Open Range Zoo in 2024.
Learn from our experts about how our elephant family are adapting to their lives with three small calves, the vital preparations for the move so many years in the making and what is still needed to provide the whole herd with the best experience in their purpose-built 21 hectare habitat at Werribee Open Range Zoo.
Once widespread throughout Asia, we are fighting to protect this precious species currently classified as Endangered in the wild by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List. Zoos Victoria is part of a regional breeding program for endangered Asian elephants that supports their conservation.
Can't make it in person? Register now for the online stream.
About the speakers
Dr Jenny Gray
CEO, Zoos Victoria
Dr Jenny Gray is the Chief Executive Officer at Zoos Victoria, charged with the operation of Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary, Kyabram Fauna Park and Werribee Open Range Zoo. Jenny has qualifications in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Business Administration, and Ethics. A combination which provides a unique set of skills to tackle the challenges of transforming the four zoos that comprise Zoos Victoria. In 2016, Jenny completed her PhD in ethics with her thesis on “An Ethical Defense of Modern Zoos” published by CSIRO.
Over the past 10 years, Jenny has led the transformation of Zoos Victoria into a zoo-based conservation organisation. Zoos Victoria has developed a unique model for contributing to measurable and meaningful conservation actions through their zoo operations, by holding and breeding endangered animals, supporting field projects and, most importantly, engaging visitors in measurable and meaningful conservation actions.
Dr Mark Pilgrim
Director, Werribee Open Range Zoo
Dr Mark Pilgrim joined Werribee Open Range Zoo in 2022 as Director after 33 years at the North of England Zoological Society’s, Chester Zoo. He’s held many roles during this time, being everything from a Keeper, Curator and Director to finally being CEO, the post he held for more than a decade.
Dr Pilgrim has a lifelong fascination with elephants. He was appointed the first chair of the UK Government’s British & Irish Association of Zoos & Aquariums Elephant Welfare Group, ensuring significant improvements in the welfare of zoo elephants in the UK over a ten-year period. As Werribee Open Range Zoo moves through the various phases of the expansion Masterplan, Dr Mark Pilgrim and his team will be working towards expanded facilities and landscapes for priority conservation species and a new 21-hectare habitat to welcome Melbourne Zoo’s elephant herd in 2024.
Lucy Truelson
Project Officer, Melbourne Zoo Trail of the Elephant Precinct, Melbourne Zoo
Lucy has worked at Melbourne Zoo for close to 25 years. During that time she has been part of many welfare advancements for our elephant herd, including the relocation of Mek Kapah and Bong Su from the old historic elephant exhibit to the current Trail of the Elephants and the introduction of three female elephants to commence the breeding program.
After completing a scholarship in 2018 that involved visiting elephant programs globally and researching elephant welfare, the Trail of the Elephants Welfare Plan was created informing Zoos Victoria’s philosophy in elephant management. Lucy is currently in a project role assisting with the design of the new Elephant Trail at Werribee Open Range Zoo and the complexities surrounding the relocation of the entire herd of 10 elephants to their new home.
