The Calgary Zoo has found a new home for three of its female elephants and say the new facility offers the pachyderms a better climate and social environment.

The zoo has finalized plans for Kamala, Swarna and Maharani to make the move to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C. in the spring of 2014.

In April 2012, zoo officials announced that its four elephants would eventually be relocated for their long-term welfare.

In July, the zoo found a new home for its Asian bull elephant, Spike, at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida.

 “It will be a very sad day for our keepers, staff, members, volunteers and community when our elephants leave the Calgary Zoo, but this decision is about them and what is best for their long-term welfare,” said Dr. Clément Lanthier, President and CEO of the Calgary Zoo. “We have been in lengthy discussions with the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, two of our staff visited the facility and we are confident that they will be able to provide an excellent new home with greater capacity and a more suitable year-round climate for our three female elephants.”

The female elephants will move to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s newly-developed ‘Elephant Trails’ exhibit and will be introduced to four other Asian elephants currently living there.

“Given the wealth of practical and scientific expertise we have at Calgary in the welfare of captive elephants, we were very specific about the expectations for our herd, and so we took time to ensure we could find the best possible home for them,” said Dr. Jake Veasey, director of animal care, conservation and research, Calgary Zoo. “We wanted them to go to a facility where their social group can expand, where they can be part of a breeding program and where they can have greater freedom to spend time in the open air year round, 24 hours per day.”

The elephants will spend time in Calgary with their new keepers from Washington to get adjusted to them before they leave.

The keepers will then travel with the elephants to their new home.

The zoo has posted a photo gallery of the elephants on its Facebook page for visitors to enjoy.