There are some projects that are a little bigger than your average backyard.
Stratco is proud to continue our long-standing partnership with Monarto Safari Park, supporting the incredible new Elephant enclosure precinct and its five very special residents: Burma, Permai, Pak Boon, Tang Mo and Putra Mas.
The purpose-built elephant habitat spans more than 12 hectares and has been designed to give the elephants space to roam, browse, swim, dust bathe and develop their social relationships.
And when you’re creating a home for five elephants in the South Australian climate, shade matters.
Creating A Cooler Space For Elephants And Keepers
Conditions at Monarto Safari Park can be tough, particularly through the heat of a South Australian summer.
As part of the Elephant Project, Stratco worked with the Monarto team to help create purpose-built shelters using Stratco Outback® Cooldek®.
One of these is the elephant interaction shelter, an important working space where keepers can safely interact with the elephants and undertake activities such as training and foot care, while providing a protected area out of the sun.
The shelter itself is anything but ordinary.
Working from an initial concept developed by the Monarto team, the project was adapted into a unique structure featuring curved pipework and a design that responds to the very particular requirements of an elephant habitat.
Stratco Outback® Cooldek® roofing was selected to help create a cooler environment beneath the shelter. Its insulated construction helps reduce heat transfer, making the space more comfortable for both elephants and the people working alongside them.
The solid roofing also provides another important benefit in an animal environment. Unlike some flexible shade materials, it doesn't create the same movement and noise overhead. This helps provide a more consistent environment for the elephants while delivering a strong, durable structure designed for the conditions.
Creating Shade For Visitors Too
The partnership extends beyond the elephant interaction area.
Stratco Outback® Cooldek® structures have also been incorporated into visitor areas around the elephant precinct, including the viewing mound and bus shelter.
The elevated viewing area gives visitors a place to stop under cover and take in views across the habitat, while the bus shelter provides another welcome place to escape the sun as visitors make their way through the Safari Park.
With four habitat areas spread across the expansive precinct, these sheltered spaces form an important part of the overall visitor experience giving people different opportunities to see the elephants while providing protection from the elements.
A Partnership Built Over Time
Stratco's relationship with Monarto Safari Park extends well beyond the Elephant Project.
Over the years, Stratco Outback® patio solutions have been used throughout the park to create practical, comfortable outdoor spaces for visitors, keepers and volunteers.
Previous projects have included custom Stratco Outback® patios featuring Cooldek® roofing at visitor and bus areas. Designed to provide generous spans with fewer supporting beams, the structures help maintain clear views while providing welcome protection from the South Australian heat.
Stratco has also created an Outback® Sunroof for Monarto's keepers and volunteers, providing an adaptable outdoor space where electronically controlled louvres can be adjusted to manage sunlight, shade and weather protection throughout the year.
From keeping visitors cool while they wait for a bus, to providing a comfortable break area for keepers, these projects have demonstrated how Stratco outdoor living products can be adapted well beyond the backyard.
The Elephants of Asia project takes that partnership another step forward.
Designed For A Very Different Backyard
At home, an Outback® Patio might create a cooler place to entertain, relax or spend time with family.
At Monarto, the same thinking around shade, durability and outdoor comfort is being applied on a very different scale.
Here, Stratco Outback® Cooldek® is helping create protected spaces for elephants and their keepers, while giving visitors comfortable places from which to experience one of Monarto Safari Park's most exciting new habitats.
We're incredibly proud to see Stratco products playing a part in this remarkable project and to continue supporting Monarto Safari Park in creating spaces designed for animals, people and the unique South Australian environment.