KEY POINTS:
Auckland Zoo elephants Kashin and Burma could become the last elephants in a New Zealand zoo as a result of Auckland City Council budget cuts.
The zoo wants to build a herd of elephants as part of a succession plan for Kashin, who turned 40 on Sunday.
But the council has not set aside the $5 million cost in its 10-year budget.
The future of the popular female elephants was raised at a council meeting yesterday, where Mayor John Banks and his Citizens & Ratepayers allies were looking to cut hundreds of millions of dollars of spending over the next decade to hold rates to inflation.
C&R leader David Hay said Auckland Zoo had to decide what was more important - to have elephants or hippos.
"The zoo has got to learn to live within its means," he said.
The council will spend $15.3 million on a New Zealand precinct at the zoo and has deferred a $16.5 million Australasian precinct beyond 10 years.
But there is nothing in the budget for the elephants.
City Vision councillor and zoo board member Leila Boyle said modern animal practice was for zoos to develop herds of elephants.
As well, she said, elephants had to have companions, so if Kashin died, Burma, who is aged 26, would have to go to an overseas zoo.
Although only middle-aged by elephant standards, Kashin has arthritis and other illnesses. Her keepers believe she will be lucky to live to 50.
Asian-born Kashin and Burma are the only elephants left in New Zealand zoos.
Kamla died at Wellington Zoo in 1983, and was not replaced. The only other elephant in New Zealand is the African-born, 35-year-old Jumbo with the Loritz Circus.
Auckland Zoo director Jonathan Wilcken said Kashin would eventually die, and the zoo would have to provide company for Burma in a way that was sustainable.
The plan was to build a herd of two bulls and up to eight females. A separate enclosure would be needed for the bulls.
All up, the zoo needed an extra 7000sq m of space and this would mean acquiring land from the Western Springs reserve.
The council yesterday called for a scoping study on the options for a breeding herd of elephants - which Mr Wilcken was keen to prepare.
"They are certainly very popular," he said. "You only need to look at the recent birthday celebrations for Kashin to see they hold a special place in Aucklanders' hearts."
