The Oldest Elephant 'Sakura' at Seoul Grand Park
Received Treatment for Health Decline but Passed Away Due to Old Age
Sakura, the oldest elephant in South Korea living at Seoul Grand Park, has passed away at the age of 59.
On the 15th, Seoul Grand Park announced that Sakura, a female elephant who had been receiving intensive care due to age-related illnesses, died on the 13th. Born in February 1965, Sakura was over 90 years old in human years.
Born in Thailand in February 1965, Sakura was moved to Japan after just seven months and performed in circus shows at Takarazuka Family Land. However, when Family Land closed due to financial difficulties in 2003, she was transferred to Seoul Grand Park in May of the same year.
Having lived in a circus troupe from a young age, Sakura was unable to live in a herd with other elephants. Due to this lack of socialization, she lived alone even after being moved to Seoul Grand Park. However, keepers began continuous social integration training in 2018, and Sakura eventually formed a herd with three elephants?Kima, Sugeura, and Huimang?and lived with them until recently.
Sakura remained healthy until April 2019, when she developed onychitis, an inflammation of the toenail. She overcame this critical period, but her health suddenly deteriorated in November last year due to fluid accumulation in her abdomen, requiring intensive care. Her condition worsened rapidly on the 10th of last month. After a brief improvement during treatment, her health declined again, and she ultimately passed away.
Seoul Grand Park plans to manage the three elephants that lived with Sakura carefully to prevent them from being shocked and to help them recover to their normal daily lives.
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