Membrey’s Transport and Crane Hire and Linfox Group recently completed a sensitive logistical project transferring a herd of elephants from Melbourne Zoo to their new residence at Werribee Open Range Zoo. Craig Membrey and his team are no strangers to managing this type of project. Having managed the transferring of animals to and from Melbourne Zoo for 56 years they were up to the ‘tusk’.
When you are moving a 23 tonne family to new digs the logistics and planning are mammoth. They involved nine elephants, 21 elephant keepers, three cranes, three Riggers, three trucks, three specially modified elephant containers, and two police escorts. Special all green traffic light controls allowed the 40 kilometre trip from Parkville to Werribee to go off without a hitch delivering Melbourne Zoo’s entire herd to their $88 million new enclosure, which is the same size as the entire footprint of Melbourne Zoo.
Craig Membrey takes up the story.
“We’ve been discussing the project with the Zoo for some time, and we’ve been planning in detail for the past 12 months. With the transportation of such sensitive cargo, the plans for the lifts and transportation have to 100 per cent,” said Craig.
“Two years ago, we lifted the crates into the enclosure and the keepers walked the elephants in and out, gradually getting them accustomed to how they felt. Obviously, there were numerous meetings involving the Zoo, the keepers, Linfox, us. The Police were also involved because on the days of transporting them, we had a full police escort.
“We provided detailed lift plans to ensure we had everything covered. With Mums travelling with their babies, we had to cater for the uneven weight distribution. The Linfox Group had specially prepared air conditioning units which controlled the atmosphere in each of the containers,” he said.
Craig and his team determined the best way to lift the containers onto the low loaders was with two MAC25 Super Lift Frannas to dual lift the containers.
“It was difficult, but it all went to plan,” said Craig. “One Franna went backwards and one forward. Tolerances were an issue and in some instances, we only had millimetres of area between benches and trees. We folded the crane’s mirrors in
so we could navigate the tight areas which meant the operators were being guided via UHF radio. Because the containers were already tall, Linfox had arranged for some extremely low loaders ensuring height restrictions were not an issue and the prime movers were all Volvos,” said Craig.
The bull elephant was in the first container with the Zoo wanting him in the new enclosure first. After a couple of days, they moved more of the herd in two containers during the second trip and three containers in the third. When the containers arrived at Werribee Open Range Zoo, Membrey’s dual lifted them from the low loader with a Liebherr LTM 1120-4.1 and a MAC25 Super Lift Franna. The containers were placed in the holding area behind the new enclosure.
“When the containers were safely on the ground the keepers opened the doors, and you could see the elephants were inquisitive but cautious. We turned the crane’s engines off and after a few minutes they nudged out slowly, touching each other with their trunks for reassurance, they were vocalising and there was lots of trumpeting, rumbling, squeaking, and then ear flapping, and just engaging with each other.
“They were all solid signs the crew was feeling settled, reassuring their dedicated keepers that years of training and preparation had paid off and that the meticulous planning by all parties ensured everything went perfectly,” said Craig.
“We’ve been working with Melbourne Zoo for 56 years with my late father, Jack Membrey Senior, beginning the relationship in the ’70s. Over that time, we’ve moved many animals to and from the Zoo including elephants, giraffes, tigers and rhinos.”
Craig tells a story about an elephant he helped move a few years ago.
“One of the young bull elephants we helped move I remember very clearly. It was 2018, and we moved him from Melbourne Zoo and took him to Melbourne airport. Ironically a 747 ‘jumbo’ had been chartered, and he was the only passenger on the plane, headed to Miami Zoo.
“About nine months ago my family and I visited the Miami Zoo. Having introduced myself, the keepers were very welcoming and took us behind the scenes. When they brought the young bull out he wasn’t very friendly at all, he made a huge noise, threw his trunk in the air, trumpeted and flapped his ears in a threatening manner. I could see he was looking at me and the elephant keeper turned to me and said, ‘He remembers you’,” said Craig.
“It was quite an experience and I’m glad I was on the outside of the enclosure. He remembered that I’d taken him from his family and interestingly, his Mother and Father were in the herd that we moved with this project,” he said.