She was considered a friend, a therapist, an occasional “matchmaker” and an icon of Perth; now the life of the elephant Tricia has been commemorated at the Perth Zoo.
Key points:
- Tricia was one of the oldest elephants in the world when she died
- Over the years, it appeared in the lives of many Western Australians
- Hundreds of people attended today the inauguration of the Tricia Memorial Walk
The zoo’s matriarch died a few days ago at age 65.
It was the oldest elephant that was cared for by an Australasia zoo and one of the oldest elephants in the world.
The Tricia Memorial Walk opened today at Perth Zoo, with hundreds of people walking along the well-trodden path of the elephant, which is now lined with the story of its life.
Information boards and photos of Tricia line the memorial walk. (ABC News: Cason Ho)
The memorial walk includes tributes to her guardians, some of whom spent much of her life caring for her.
One of them was Chief Elephant Guard Steve Edmunds.
“Probably for the first 12 months, she distrusted me a little bit. Once I met her, and she knew me, she was probably one of my best friends,” Edmunds said.
Steve Edmunds says Tricia was one of his best friends and that it always lifted his spirits. (ABC News: Cason Ho)
“She was the best therapist in the world … you couldn’t spend time with Tricia without her lifting your spirits.”
For many Western Australians, Tricia has been an integral part of their lives as they grow up.
Trish Hale remembers every milestone Tricia achieved at the zoo.
“Every time I came to the zoo … I had to go see Tricia. My whole life has been here. She was our elephant,” Mrs. Hale said as she walked around the monument.
Trish Hale remembers every milestone Tricia achieved at Perth Zoo. (ABC News: Cason Ho)
“That’s so amazing. I’m thinking of going back to Busselton now, but I’m at the zoo because I want to say goodbye to Tricia.”
Joanne and Michael Wheeler have celebrated various milestones in zoo life with Tricia.
“I was about 14 and he was 16, and we came to the zoo on our first date,” Ms. Wheeler said.
“We see her every time we come. Maybe she was our matchmaker.”
Joanne and Michael Wheeler celebrated various milestones in life at the zoo with Tricia. (ABC News: Cason Ho)
Others were still staggering over the loss of a WA family name, including eight-year-old Cassius.
“It’s nice to have all the animals in your life, but Tricia was just that special one you could never leave,” Cassius said.
“I’m devastated … to have lost such a special animal.”
Cassius says he was shattered by the loss of an animal as special as Tricia. (ABC News: Cason Ho)
Hundreds of visitors wrote notes to say goodbye to Tricia at the memorial, including WA Prime Minister Mark McGowan and her family.
McGowan said Tricia “entered the hearts and minds of Western Australians” in a way she had never experienced.
Mark McGowan says Tricia was often the special guest at events and celebrations at the zoo. (ABC News: Cason Ho)
“I also remember coming to various events and functions and she would go out and attend, and she was quite a star at parties, birthday parties and weddings,” she said.
He dismissed rumors that Tricia’s body was preserved and displayed in a museum, and said the decision on the animal’s body was still being debated.
Hundreds of people attended the event to pay tribute to Tricia. (ABC News: Cason Ho)
Tricia was born in Vietnam and came to WA in 1963; since then, its enclosure has been transformed from a concrete enclosure to one that had a swimming pool and lush vegetation with multiple people responsible for its care.
His death marked the beginning of the end of the elephant exhibition at Perth Zoo, with Putra Mas and Permai having to move to other zoos with herds of elephants.
A Tricia Tribute to Conservation Fund has been set up to support Sumatra conservationists.
Tricia played an important role in the lives of Perth Zoo staff. (ABC News: Cason Ho)
Posted 3 hours, 3 hours ago, dig. July 10, 2022 at 6:19 AM, updated 3 hours ago, 3 hours ago, dig. July 10, 2022 at 6:25 AM