An Asian elephant from Perth Zoo has celebrated her 58th birthday. Tricia is the one of the oldest elephants in Australia and is the longest resident of Perth Zoo.
Born in Singapore in 1963 Tricia was named after the 1963 Miss Australia.
Tricia is getting on in age and its beginning to show. Her keeper, Kirsty Carey said, “Elephants go through six sets of teeth through their lifetime and Tricia is on her last set. And just like humans she has started to slow down a bit and has a little less hair.”
For Tricia this mean lots of extra attention from her keepers, “To help with some age related niggles, Tricia receives deep tissue massages daily with the assistance of an equine massage pad therapy.”
She’s quite spoilt and “has access to a mud wallow, a swimming pool and sometimes at night chooses to sleep outside under the stars rather than in her barn. She also has regular walks around the Zoo to keep up her fitness level,” added Carey.
Keepers have a great love for Tricia as Carey explained, “Tricia is definitely a favourite for the staff at Perth Zoo, but she is also a Perth icon. “
“I certainly feel very privileged to work alongside such a wonderful animal and care for her in her twilight years,” said Kirsty.
It’s her great attitude that makes her so popular say’s Carey “Being such a gentle giant with an easy going nature and great sense of humour, she makes people smile on a daily basis. I’ve even heard her referred to as a ‘Perthanality!”
In her old age Tricia has not let up on the activity at all. She has even taken up painting and regularly shows off her artistic skills. People are able to purchase her paintings at the zoo.
For her birthday she received a giant birthday cake made of bran and fruit during a celebration at the zoo.
Photo Credits: Perth Zoo
