Saturday, September 19, 2009

ウメ子大往生(Umeko dai o jo): Peaceful death of Umeko

An Asian elephant Umeko (ウメ子) died peacefully on September 17 in the zoo of Odawara Castle Park. She came from Thailand in 1950, and is estimated 62 years old which is equivalent about 100 years old of human being. She was the oldest elephant in Japan.
It seemed she died of senility. She was 2.3m tall, 3m long (except 2m long trunk, 1m long tail), and the weight was 3 tons. She ate 60kg of potatoes and carrots one day before and looked very fine.
It is said that elephants sleep standing. Therefore the keeper who has taken care of Umeko for 20 years said it was the first time for him to see her lying.
There are only 14 monkeys left in that zoo.

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