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Kashin the elephant - Source: ONE News -
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Auckland Zoo has taken another step forward in its bid to import a herd of up to ten Asian elephants.
The city council's Arts Culture and Recreation Committee has approved $13 million for the project which would allow the enclosure to be increased to up to six times its current size and expand into the adjoining Western Springs Park.
Planning is in its early stages with the zoo still looking into where it can get the elephants from. It is also arranging to use Niue as a possible quarantine centre to ensure the elephants are free from diseases such as foot and mouth.
Zoo staff are concerned that their only remaining elephant, Burma, is getting lonely after the death of 40-year-old Kashin last year.
Burma and Kashin were together for 20 years and keeper Rob Caine said Burma would be distraught because for elephants relationships are their life.
The zoo is eager to fill the void but finding a new elephant is a difficult process because of cost and biosecurity issues.
The expansion plan involves would allow for 10 new elephants to be housed in the premises but some animal rights groups have been vocal opponents of the upsize.
SAFE spokesman Hans Kriek said the idea goes against normal trends and enclosures are not the way of the future.
But director Jonathan Wilcken has said the zoo is well aware of what the elephants need and is adamant they can provide it.
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