Asian elephant Tricia from Perth Zoo has died at the age of 65.
Tricia, who was one of the oldest Asian elephants cared for by a zoo in the world, died Wednesday night after a rapid deterioration in her health.
The beloved matriarch, who celebrated her milestone birthday in January, had been suffering from “age-related” problems for years, with Kirsty Carey, the senior elephant manager at Perth Zoo, talking about the struggles of the animal in 2016.
Camera IconCrowds watches as the elephant Tricia arrives at Fremantle Pier. Credit: UNKNOWN / WAN Historical Archive
The beloved animal, named after 1962 Miss Australia Tricia Reschke, was born on January 24, 1957 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and arrived in Perth six years later.
The beginning of the elephant’s life in Perth was far from easy, joining the zoo at a time when “zoos were a random collection of animals kept for human enjoyment.”
“Many of our great visitors remember that Tricia lived in a concrete enclosure,” Ms. Carey said.
Camera iconTricia the Elephant at Perth Zoo in 1981. Credit: The West Australian / The West Australian
However, as the years passed, the Tricia enclosure received much-needed updates and began to receive attention from a team of six specialized zoos.
With his “ele art” and daily walks through the facilities he became an iconic figure at the Perth Zoo.
Tricia’s camera icon on one of her walks in the zoo. Credit: Michael O’Brien / WA NEWS
Tricia’s impact on the people of Perth is evident in the effervescence of love she has received since zoo staff gave the sad news that the elephant didn’t have “much time to spend” on Monday.
“I’ve loved you Tricia since I first saw you when I was a little girl and now I’m 40,” one Facebook user wrote.
“I remember you as a child in your concrete pen and we celebrated with joy when you got a new enclosure with earth and trees and a pool,” added another zoo skipper.
Camera IconTricia made amazing art through the zoo’s enrichment program that allowed animals to create paintings with 100% non-toxic materials. Credit: Nic Ellis / The West Australian
Western Australians and animal lovers around the world will miss Tricia, but her legacy will never be forgotten.
In homage to the zoo’s much-loved icon, TransPerth christened an MV Tricia ferry in 2019.
Tricia’s death will mark the start of a massive change at Perth Zoo as the organization seeks to say goodbye to the remaining elephants.
“Once Tricia is no longer with us, we will find new homes for our remaining male, Putra Mas, and the female elephant, Permai, within the Australasian regional elephant program,” says the zoo’s website. Perth.
“Gone are the days, like in Tricia’s time, when it was appropriate to acquire another individual animal simply as a substitute.
Camera icon. Elephants Tania and Tricia are shown as babies with zoo keepers Harold Brooke and Jim Ashwin. Credit: UNKNOWN / WA News
“Today, good modern zoos try to replicate the natural social and living conditions of a species.
“We are committed to providing the best for the animals we have in our care and in this place we cannot develop an elephant exhibit that is suitable to accommodate a herd in operation consisting of several individuals.”