Jumbo packs her trunk

ROBYN EDIE/Southland Times

RETIRING: Jumbo the African elephant, pictured here with her handler Tony Ratcliffe earlier this year.

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Jumbo the elephant has said goodbye to the circus and is saving up for her big OE.

After 28 years with Weber Bros Circus, the only African elephant in the country is retiring to South Auckland. Her owner, the SPCA, is hoping to raise funds to send Jumbo, 36, to an elephant sanctuary in the United States.

Weber Brothers owner Harry Weber said a group of experts met in Auckland last week to discuss the 36-year-old star's future and made the difficult decision to put her into retirement.

''Jumbo is a real crowd favourite and it's always been our intention to ensure she has the opportunity to enjoy the second half of her life at a less hectic pace and out of the public eye.''

Jumbo now belongs to the SPCA, who have given her a full health check and found her a temporary sanctuary at Franklin Zoo in Tuakau.

She will have three acres of land all to herself and while the public will be able to come and see her when she's settled, she will be able to have time alone whenever she likes.

SPCA chief executive Robyn Kippenberger said she was delighted with the outcome.

''Our ultimate goal is to find her a place where there's other African elephants, and that's not New Zealand.''

There is only one other elephant in the country, at Auckland Zoo, and it is an Indian elephant. The two species do not get along.

Ms Kippenberger said plans were being made to raise money to send Jumbo to an elephant sanctuary in the United States, which could cost more than $100,000.

As part of the SPCA's deal with the circus, it had been agreed Weber Brothers would not replace Jumbo.

''They're not interested at all. With the management of a large exotic animal, it's almost impossible to meet welfare standards.''

- © Fairfax NZ News