ATLANTA — Sunday was a big day for Zoo Atlanta’s African elephants - Kelly and Tara – as they walked into their new habitat. Their new environment is the African Savanna, which opens to the public later this summer.

The Zoo calls their move months in the making. The elephants’ former habitat was renovated ahead of Sunday’s transfer. Protective barriers were built to allow an area through which Kelly and Tara could walk at their own pace. The Zoo says in order to make sure the elephants weren’t distracted in the process, the move was done before public operating hours.

“This is a tremendous moment for the elephant program at Zoo Atlanta and in the history of Zoo Atlanta. We have been looking forward to this milestone for Kelly and Tara for years, and it is a great joy to finally be able to give them a chance to check out the amazing new home we’ve built with them in mind,” said Raymond B. King, President and CEO in a statement.

Zoo Atlanta says when the new exhibit opens later this summer, visitors will get a better sense of the conservation actions that tie Atlanta to Africa.

For now, the elephants will stay behind the scenes. Efforts are underway to plant grass in the new habitat, so it can have time to germinate.