Perth Zoo's elephant matriarch dies
One of the world's oldest elephants, lovingly known as Tricia, has tragically died in Perth Zoo.
Tributes began flooding in immediately for the Asian elephant who painted pictures and entertained countless visitors in almost six decades at the zoological park.
"Tricia wasn't just well-known, she was well-loved," Premier Mark McGowan said, in a statement.
"Her stature and her grace were compelling. For many, she was a Perth icon."
"For six decades, she was an integral part of any visit to Perth Zoo."
"If you lived in Perth at some point in your life then you probably have a memory of Tricia."
Her death on Wednesday night, which is said to be from complications relating to her age, is expected to spark the closure of the zoo's elephant exhibit.
Veterinarians and Tricia's keepers had been monitoring her health closely for some time before her health rapidly deteriorated, according to McGowan's office, as they described the elephant as among the oldest in the world and the oldest being cared for by a zoo in Australasia.
"Tricia's final moments were peaceful. She was surrounded by her carers in her night quarters on Wednesday evening, July 6, 2022," the office said, in a statement.
The zoo wants mourners to donate to the Tricia Tribute to Conservation Fund in lieu of sending flowers, to help create a "lasting legacy for this extraordinary animal".
The fund is designed to help support the zoo's conservation efforts and build an elephant guard post in Indonesian island Sumatra's Bukit Tigapuluh ecosystem, to help monitor and protect one of the last remaining wild herds of Sumatran elephants.
Image credits: Getty Images