The world's loneliest elephant arrives in Niue

Niue does not get many human visitors, but now the tiny Pacific Island, home to just 1,500 people, has welcomed an even more unusual guest – Anjalee, probably the world’s loneliest elephant.

But the eight-year-old Asian elephant, who arrived in the world’s smallest nation on Friday, will not be lonely for long. Her bizarre detour to Polynesia will provide a three-month quarantine period before she heads to Auckland zoo.

Around 100 curious locals and tourists were at Hannan international airport, which usually only receives one flight a week, to see her arrive on board the Royal New Zealand Air Force Hercules that collected her from Sri Lanka. However, they were able to catch only a glimpse of the roving pachyderm as the crate in which she was travelling was delicately transferred from plane to a lorry and transported to her new home in the village of Avatele.

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Until now Niue's most famous land animal was the local delicacy, uga, or coconut crab, but there are hopes that Anjalee will provide a boost for the country's tourist industry, which currently revolves around another large mammal – the humpback whales which visit the island each year between July and September.

Although Anjalee will spend her time on Niue in a specially constructed pen, complete with a public viewing platform and electric fence, some Niueans are concerned about what would happen should she escape.

Others are worried that her needs will be put before those of the local population. Although some areas of the 100-square-mile island have already been put aside for growing elephant grass, rumours that that locally grown produce could end up on Anjalee's plate rather than those of the locals were dismissed.

New Zealand officials also denied that the elephant’s presence would affect the supply of overseas food for the population of Niue, which relies on monthly container ships and a weekly flight from New Zealand for imported goods.

Most people at the airport were excited by the arrival of the country's newest resident. One compared the opportunity to see an elephant in remote Polynesia to the chance of seeing snow on the island.

Niue, which once quarantined alpacas destined for New Zealand, will benefit financially from the deal. The agreement with Auckland zoo will also offer employment and educational opportunities.

"Our school children will be able to engage with Anjalee's keepers, and watch her train and exercise," said Toke Talagi, the island's premier.

Anjalee, who comes from an elephant sanctuary in Sri Lanka, will eventually provide company for Auckland zoo's other elephant, Burma, who has lived alone since the death of her mate Kashin in 2009. A team of vets a zookeepers from Auckland and Sri Lanka will stay with Anjalee during her stay.