Beloved Asian elephant Tricia has been Perth Zoo's matriarch since she arrived from Vietnam in 1963, but planning has begun to move the jumbo species out when the 61-year-old eventually dies.
Tricia remains a major drawcard to the zoo but she has slowed down significantly in recent years, and is feeling age-related aches and pains.
The oldest Asian elephant in captivity lived to 63, so Perth Zoo keepers have long known Tricia is approaching the end of her life.
Male elephant Putra Mas and female Permai are expected to be moved to other zoos for their own wellbeing in the next few years.
Female elephants are highly social and need to be part of a herd, while the males live in bachelor groups, Environment Minister Stephen Dawson said on Wednesday.
"For Putra Mas, his genetics are highly valuable and he would greatly benefit by being closer to ovulating females in other zoos," he said.
"We are constrained on the current zoo site with no room to expand to accommodate a herd of the size that we would need to ensure the best conditions for our elephants."
Mr Dawson said other changes were also being considered for the zoo, including overhead trails and interconnected exhibits for the animals.
To show visitors what happens behind the scenes, the zoo is also considering giving people the chance to watch procedures at the veterinary hospital and access breeding areas.
A new African lion exhibit will also open in the next few weeks, with two lionesses set to arrive from Taronga Western Plains Zoo in NSW.
Perth Zoo, which marked its 120th anniversary on Wednesday, opened in 1898 with one orangutan, one tiger, a pair of monkeys and some Australian mammals.
It is now a world-leading zoo with the only numbat breeding program in the world.
