12 African elephants settle in at Beijing Wildlife Park

After four and a half months in quarantine in Shanghai, a herd of 12 African elephants has arrived at their new home at the Beijing Wildlife Park.

Aged between 3 and 7, the five males and seven females were flown to China from Zimbabwe in December last year.

A woman feeds an African elephant at Beijing Wildlife Park, May 6, 2017. [Photo: CCTV News]

Wu Zhaozheng, the general manager of the park, told China Central TV that they wanted to make sure the elephants are happy and healthy and will breed. But he says that won't be an easy task. 

"We are faced with challenges such as carrying out research into their habits and behavior, and how to raise them in a natural and educational way," Wu said. 

An African elephant settles in at Beijing Wildlife Park, one of 12 elephants who have spent the last four-and-a-half months in quarantine in Shanghai, May 6, 2017. [Photo: CCTV News]

Special heating equipment has been installed in their shelter to make sure they have a comfortable living environment.

The elephants will be ready to breed when they reach the age of 12 or 13, reports CCTV News. When that happens, Beijing Wildlife Park will become the only breeding center for African elephants in northern China.

The elephants are expected to go on show to the public by this time next year, after the construction of a special 'Elephant House'.