The longest-living Thai elephant in Japan dies



TOKYO: -- Hanako, the longest-living female Thai elephant in Japan, has died at the age of 69 at the Inokashira Park Zoo in Tokyo, the Thai embassy in the Japanese capital reported in its Facebook page on Thursday.

Affectionately called “Grandma Hanako” for her old age in the zoo, arrived in Tokyo in 1949 at the age of two. It was the first elephant to arrive in Japan after the end of the Second World War in 1945.

The Thai embassy said that Hanako was regarded as a goodwill ambassador from Thailand and a healing medicine for Japanese children after the war.

Early this year however, Hanako became a headline news in Japan when both Thai and Japanese animal rights protection activists launched a campaign to have the ageing elephant moved out of Inokashira Park Zoo in Tokyo to another zoo where there are other elephants.

Because of her old age and travelling might be dangerous to her health, Hanako was kept in the zoo in Tokyo until her death.

The only elephant in the zoo since 1949, Hanako was ironically called the most lonely elephant in the world.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/164976


-- Thai PBS 2016-05-27

What a picture of true sadness - living ? what she endured / suffered can in no way be called living - at least she is now at rest - if she had been free there would have been her friends and family at her side.

For those who understand cage fever and how elephants in the wild attend those that are ill or dying, you will understand my message.

What a picture of true sadness - living ? what she endured / suffered can in no way be called living - at least she is now at rest - if she had been free there would have been her friends and family at her side.

For those who understand cage fever and how elephants in the wild attend those that are ill or dying, you will understand my message.

1000 likes!!

This is the reason zoos should be outlawed. Even with other elephants for company, caged like this is not a life for any animal, let alone an intelligent creature.

Free Range zoos should be the bare minimum standard for captive animals, not cages in a zoo.

67 years in solitary confinement. Absolutely shameful.

67 years in solitary confinement. Absolutely shameful.

The Japanese are no respecters of animals, possibly more so than other Asians.

Filleting a fish whilst alive so that the taste of the flesh is enhanced, is barbaric, at best!

Bloody disgrace an elephant kept in solitary for 67 years.

Why do STUPID humans do things like that???

No thought no compassion nothing.

Elephants are family orientated creatures, not solitary, cruel so so cruel.

At least now the poor animal is no longer suffering.

The Japanese are no respecters of animals, possibly more so than other Asians.

I grew up in Japan and I'd have to agree. OK, the Chinese are no better, but Thais and other SE Asians most certainly are.

The Japanese are no respecters of animals, possibly more so than other Asians.

I grew up in Japan and I'd have to agree. OK, the Chinese are no better, but Thais and other SE Asians most certainly are.

Are you sure? I would have to venture that you may be right but not much better, that's for sure! I am sure most Thai pig farms would not probably gladden the animal activists' hearts. And don't get me started on Halal or Kosher food requirements, regardless of the country.