Wed Jul 23 15:55:42 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) in Bengaluru, India, is set to make its first-ever animal export, sending four Asian elephants to Himeji Central Park – Safari Park in Japan. The exchange is part of a larger program that will bring cheetahs, jaguars, pumas, chimpanzees, and capuchins to BBP. The elephants have been trained for transportation and are in good health. Staff from both parks have been training and preparing for the move, which will take approximately 20 hours. The goal is to allow the Japanese public to appreciate Asian elephants.
**News Article:**
**Bengaluru’s Bannerghatta Park to Export Elephants to Japan in Landmark Exchange**
**Bengaluru, July 23, 2025** – In a historic move, the Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) near Bengaluru is preparing to export four Asian elephants to Himeji Central Park – Safari Park in Himeji, Japan. This marks the first time BBP has ever exported animals as part of an exchange program.
The exchange, which has received approval from the Central Zoo Authority in New Delhi, will see the park receive four cheetahs, four jaguars, four pumas, three chimpanzees, and eight black-capped capuchins in return.
The selected elephants, Suresh (8), Gowri (9), Shruthi (7), and Tulsi (5), will be transported via Qatar Airways cargo plane from Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru to Kansai International Airport in Osaka on July 24 and 25. The journey is expected to take approximately 20 hours.
“This exchange is a fantastic opportunity for the people of Japan to connect with these majestic creatures,” said Surya Sen A.V., Deputy Conservator of Forests and Executive Director of Bannerghatta Biological Park. “We are confident that the elephants will be well cared for in Himeji, which has advanced animal welfare practices.”
The elephants have undergone six months of training to prepare for the transportation. A team of eight personnel from BBP, including veterinary officers, keepers, a supervisor, and a biologist, will accompany the elephants to Japan. They will stay for two weeks to assist with the acclimatization process. Elephant keepers from Himeji Central Park have also spent 20 days training at Bannerghatta Biological Park in preparation for the arrival of the animals.
This is not the first time Indian elephants have been sent to Japan. Three elephants from Mysuru Zoo were sent to Toyohashi Zoo and Botanical Park in May 2021.
The Bannerghatta Biological Park currently houses 26 captive elephants and sees the addition of two to three elephants to the herd every year which is the highest for any zoo in India. The addition of Asian Elephants to Himeji Central Park – Safari Park is a great opportunity for the people of Japan to visit the park and appreciate the gentle giants for their charisma and intelligence.
First Piper 