Taipei Zoo moved two Asian elephants, named You-kai and You-shin, to the African Animal Area on April 10 to make way for renovation work in the Tropical Rainforest Area, according to a news release issued by the zoo on Friday.

The heavy duo made their first outdoor appearance on April 22 in a newly built sand activity area, where they came trunk-to-trunk with African elephant Chian-hui for the first time, the zoo said.

Their first mammoth meeting quickly turned lively, with the elephants raising their trunks, sniffing, vocalizing, and testing each other’s reactions. You-kai and You-shin tossed sand and splashed water over their bodies while exploring the new surroundings at the zoo in Wenshan District.

Housing the Asian elephants next to an African elephant during the renovation period was intended to provide a better environment and increase opportunities for social interaction, the zoo said.