Photo by Dan Dan The Binary Man.

Kandula, one of the National Zoo’s seven Asian Elephants, is now thirteen years old. It is time for the elephant bar mitzvah him to hang out with some lady elephants that he isn’t related to.

Born to Shanthi in 2001, Kandula was only the fifth elephant in the world conceived via artificial insemination. He’s gone from a sprightly 324 pounds at birth to approximately 7,400 pounds and become increasingly independent as he’s gotten older.

According to the zoo, it is normal for male elephants to spend less time with their birth group as they mature. And that is how they know it is time to find Kandula a new home.

He is set to participate in the Species Survival Plan for Asian elephants, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ breeding program, though they have not yet finalized which zoo he will go to. Once there, he’ll be living with a multigenerational herd that includes possible mates.

In the meantime, zookeepers are acclimating Kandula to the 17-foot-long, 8-foot-tall, 17,000-pound crate that will transport him.

Visitors can spot it in one of his outdoor yards. At first, Kandula will be able to look at and touch the crate. Then, zookeepers will begin getting him used to walking into it and standing inside, before slowly increasing the amount of time he spends inside.

Before he leaves—sometime in the fall—the zoo plans to host a celebration in his honor.