Mila The African Elephant

: Mila in front of her new barn

: Mila, October 2010

The Franklin Zoo Charitable Trust has transferred Mila, the ex-circus African elephant to San Diego Zoo in the US. She is settling in well and getting to know her new herd. The Trust would like to thank San Diego Zoo for caring for Mila for the rest of her natural life. The San Diego Zoo provide sanctuary to aging elephants just like Mila with a great skill base of experience as well as wonderful care facilities and resources to care for the health and well being of these wonderful animals.

Thank you to all those who contributed so much to ensure the safe relocation of all the animals including Mila.

These are some photos of Mila at Franklin Zoo in New Zealand before she left for San Diego.

Mila playing in her sandpit

Click here to watch Mila enjoying a warm sunny day in her habitat

Animal Stories

Franklin Zoo property for sale by tender /2015/02/franklin-zoo-property-for-sale-by-tender/

The Franklin Zoo Property is available for sale by tender closing 1 April 2025
Click here to see information, video footage and photos of property
Franklin Zoo property outline

Mila’s move to be with other elephants /2014/09/milas-move-to-be-with-other-elephants/

Click Here to see a 14 minute video clip showing Mila’s move to her new family
Mila and Mary play trunks over

Mila, Mary, and Shaba… a herd of 3. By Erin Ivory /2014/03/mila-mary-and-shaba%E2%80%A6-a-herd-of-3-by-erin-ivory/

Shaba (L) Mary (M) Mila (R)
Shaba (L) Mila (R)
Mila and Mary’s relationship has grown and they still enjoy playing and hanging out together. Mary and Mila spend their nights together and their sleeping arrangements have moved over time to be closer and closer to each other. When the keepers arrived in the morning, they would [...]