Kashin was Auckland zoo’s grand old lady but merely middle aged in elephant years. She had suffered from arthritis for years and over the years everything possible had been done for her, from acupunture, massage, special shoes and all medical proccedures possible.
They knew she wasn’t going to live a full elephant life span but it is such a shock that she is gone. I can’t believe I will never see her again.
For my 40th birthday in 2006 I got to spend 2 hours with Kashin. I will never forget her guzzling down her birthday cake, her happily swimming in the zoo pond (she took great delight in soaking her keeper), her gorgeous contented snuffly noises when I hosed her with warm water and her complete interest yet relaxation at being scrubbed.
Kashin was a wonderful animal. She was an ambassador for both our zoo and education about wildlife. She has been there for most of my life (I’m a regular visitor) and the zoo just won’t be the same without her.
I’m so sad for her keepers but mostly for Burma her best friend.
I hope your pain is gone now big girl, I will never forget you.
I’m so sorry. Elephants are such wonderous creatures. Getting to spend time with her was indeed a precious gift.
Our local zoo had a sweet girl named Bunny. She lived much of her life alone, which is cruel for an elephnt. Back when the zoo was free, I went there often, and I got to know Bunny and her handlers. They let me feed her, and Bunny knew me when I came into her building. When she was bored, she would reach her trunk around the corner and flip the lights in her keeper’s office off & on.
Sometime in the mid 90’s, the zoo director sent Bunny to live out her days at an elephant sanctuary in Tennessee. Visitors were not allowed, so I never saw her again, but I kept track of her on their website.
This past May 11, it was announced that Bunny was dying. She was very old, and she was surrounded by those that loved her, both human and elephant. It made me very sad, and I cried, it was very difficult to work that day, which turned out to be my last day on the job. I ddn’t know that at the time. I had an appointment after work to go look at a little Papillon puppy.
I ended up buying the puppy and brought her home the same day Bunny died. My puppy’s name is… Bunny, in her honor.