The death of Perth Zoo’s beloved matriarch, Tricia, is being especially saddened by her fellow Asian elephant Permai, who will not leave her side.
The 65-year-old woman was sacrificed at 6.30pm on Wednesday night after a rapid deterioration in her health in recent weeks.
“He is thought to have been the oldest elephant on the planet,” Environment Minister Reece Whitby told reporters on Thursday, comparing his death to a “death in the family.”
Your local newspaper, whenever you want.
“Certainly one of the oldest elephants in any zoo. An Asian elephant will tend to live between 40 and 50 years.
“So we are incredibly blessed to have been with us for so long.
Camera Icon Environment Minister Reece Whitby at Perth Zoo after the death of the elephant Tricia. Credit: Nic Ellis / The West Australian
“In her last moment, she was surrounded by all her caregivers and veterinarians. It was a peaceful and dignified shipment.
“It was a smooth ending for a very kind zoo lady.”
Perth Zoo executive director Wendy Attenborough said Tricia had trouble walking and was not sleeping.
“So we knew the time was very close and we had to make that difficult decision to say goodbye and make sure it had a respectful and dignified end to life,” Mrs Attenborough said.
Her caregivers were all devastated while her resident elephant friends Permai and Putra Mas also needed special attention, he said.
Permai and Tricia shared an enclosure, but the bull elephant Putra Mas lives in a separate exhibition, which reflects the solitary nature of male elephants in the wild.
“(Permai) is by his side,” Mrs Attenborough said.
“She has been Tricia’s constant companion for several decades and will therefore feel her loss with great intensity.
“These are the first days and we don’t know how she will show up, but she is certainly by Tricia ‘s side and crying for the time being.
“She has certainly maintained a very close relationship with Tricia, but I think it’s fair to say she knew the time was coming.”
If you want to see this content, adjust your cookie settings.
For more information on how we use cookies, see our Cookie Guide.
Mrs. Attenborough suggested that Permai would finally recover from her pain after saying goodbye, saying she was a very independent animal.
Asked what steps would be taken with Tricia’s remains, Ms Attenborough said the zoo was working with the WA Museum “to ensure Tricia could continue to be an extraordinary ambassador of her kind as she was in life “.
“They’ll keep her in a safe space for a while and then we’ll have some very respectful conversations when it’s the right time on how to properly recognize her legacy.”
To Mrs. Attenborough was also asked if he supported the idea of a statue for Tricia in Perth, to which he replied: “It is certainly worthy of a fantastic legacy and that is what we are working to achieve.”
Camera IconTricia enjoying a painting session as part of her enrichment activities. Credit: Images courtesy of Perth Zo / TheWest
Whitby said the eventual removal of Permai and Putra Mas from Perth Zoo, first marked in 2018, would not be rushed. The view was that metropolitan zoos were not suitable for such large creatures, that they should be in zoos at large when they were in captivity.
Asked about the process, Ms Attenborough said the zoo focused on making sure the couple got through this difficult period.
“We are working very hard to find them the best house possible.
“It is important that they enter a herd structure, that Permai is … with calves and other female elephants, and that Putra Mas also has a lasting home that is suitable for him.
Camera Icon Perth Zoo Executive Director Wendy Attenborough, right, is comforted at the zoo after the death of the elephant Tricia. Credit: Nic Ellis / The West Australian
“One of the results of the elephant march is that we will have more space in the African savannah to offer the best possible houses we can offer to some of the other animals that live there.
“So the giraffe herd – we are very good at the Perth Zoo for raising giraffes – and we will be able to participate very well in our regional breeding program.
“We’ll have more room for these animals to go.”
He denied that it was part of a broader shift toward removing larger animals from subway zoos.
“It’s really a reflection that elephants are extraordinary creatures that need a very particular kind of social structure to support them and our little city zoo, while fabulous, can’t provide them with that structure,” he said. Mrs. Attenborough.