Two Asian elephants have travelled across the country, in a move to boost the conservation breeding programme for the endangered species.

The big move, which took months of planning and involved keepers, vets, two lorries, a crane able to carry 100 tons, and a team of animal transport experts, marks a critical step in efforts to protect the endangered species.

26-year-old Karishma and her nine-year-old daughter Elizabeth, or Beth as she is known by keepers, moved from Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire to their new home at Chester Zoo in Cheshire on Wednesday 9 July, and have been settling into their new surroundings before meeting the rest of the herd.

The pair were transported in custom-built travel crates, weighing ten tons each, specially designed to keep them comfortable for the duration of their road trip - including being fitted with air conditioning and CCTV cameras for drivers to check on their precious passengers during the four-hour journey.

The two lorries, driven by animal transport experts, travelled in convoy down the motorway with Whipsnade Zoo’s elephant team leader Mark Howes and lead elephant keeper Emily Hanley in tow, to ensure the elephants saw a familiar face once they reached their destination.

Stefan Groeneveld, section manager for elephants at Whipsnade Zoo, said: “It was a bittersweet day for all of the elephant keepers here when we said farewell to two of our elephants, Beth and Karishma.”

“Karishma arrived at Whipsnade Zoo just over 20 years ago, and she and her daughter Beth, named after HM Queen Elizabeth II, have been much-loved members of our herd.”

“It’s always sad to say goodbye to animals we work so closely with, but we’re excited that they’ll be starting a new chapter in a new place, with the opportunity to keep growing the herd there as part of the conservation breeding programme for their sadly endangered species.”

Elephant keepers at Whipsnade Zoo have been preparing Beth and Karishma for their move for months, including getting them used to their travel crates - which were placed in their paddock in February to allow the mother-daughter duo time to investigate them and get used to them.

“We did daily training sessions with Beth and Karishma, where they were rewarded for voluntarily walking into the crates, which ensured they were really comfortable with them for their journey to Chester Zoo,” explained Stefan.

“We also packed their favourite snacks for the road trip, including fresh hay and water.”

Additionally, in preparation for their journey, Beth and Karishma received a health check from the conservation zoo’s vet team to confirm they were fit and healthy for the move. Stefan said:

“Collaboration between zoos as part of conservation breeding programmes is integral to keeping a strong and healthy insurance population for animals at risk of extinction in the wild. Considered by conservationists to be one of the most persecuted species in the world, elephant conservation in zoos is particularly critical, as the wild population of Asian elephants is dwindling due to habitat loss, degradation, and poaching for their ivory tusks.”

“Our remaining herd of five elephants, including male Ming Jung, females Kaylee, Lucha, and Donna, and calf Nang Phaya, who is almost three, will continue to contribute to the breeding programme here at Whipsnade Zoo.”

To learn more about the conservation work ZSL, the international charity behind Whipsnade Zoo, does, as well as the other conservation breeding programmes the Zoo is involved in, sign up for ZSL’s conservation newsletter: Conservation Newsletter signup | ZSL

Photo: Mother-daughter duo Karishma and Beth left for Chester Zoo (c) Whipsnade Zoo