Chester Zoo Asian Elephant Sheba

Sad news - Chester are reporting via Facebook/Twitter that Sheba, oldest elephant at the zoo, has died after a short illness. She was euthanased on Wednesday after 46 years at the zoo.

 

Really, really sad news, condolence to her keepers and fellow elephants.

 

I thought exactly the same thing. Maya, or Jangoli, or Thi (who has her own family)?

Sheba lasted several years longer than it seemed she would a few years ago.

 

Very, very sad news. Condolences to everyone at the zoo

 

It is very sad news for the zoo and its staff.. I hope her passing does not unsettle the herd to much..


I found this on the Chester zoo web site
Chester Zoo - Sheba

 

I have never worked in a zoo with elephants....does anyone know, when an individual dies, do they leave the body for some hours for the others to see and touch before removing it?

 

I understand that this was the case at Paignton last year when Gaye died, Duchess was allowed time with her, but I don't know about any other collections.

 

Such sad news. I didn't even know she was unwell

 

Really sad news having just found out. Sheba was always one of my favourite animals at the zoo especially since having to get to spend some time with the herd in the house with hardly anybody around on the "Rainy Summer Evening last year".
Thoughts go out to the Elephant keepers at this time. She will be greatly missed both by Keepers and visitors alike.

 

First and foremost, I'm devastated by this news My thoughts go out to all of the staff, elephants and visitors that will miss her greatly.

Was it Sheba that mothered Jubilee, and thus wasw the first Asian elephant to successfully breed in the UK? I think Jubilee is no longer alive, but does anybody know if she lives on through any other offspring?

I'm not very good on the ID's, but can somebody tell me if any of the attachments are Sheba?

I think 1 and 2 might be the same elephant - it was just after Nayan's birth and she seemed separate from the group. Sorry for all the pics, just wanting to know (if possible, could anybody ID all elephants) Thanks in advance, will be much appreciated

 

Very sad news ... Sheba was a favorite of mine ...

Chris...... pic 3 is Sheba..

 

Thanks Mariebee (guessing you're counting left to right, meaning the only portrait picture?)

Do you know the others? If not it doesn't matter, the question is open to all

 

1. Maya 2. Maya 3. Sheba 4. I think Sundara 5. Thi

Sheba was mother to Motty the hybrid elephant not Jubilee...
As far as I know she has no living offspring..

 

Thanks again Mariebee

 

Photo 4 is Jangoli.

Sheba had 2 calves in her time, the first in 1974, sadly stillborn and the second in 1978 which was of course Motty.

Jubilee's mother was Judy who later went to Dublin and is now at Neunkirchen Zoo, Germany. Jubilee died in 2003 at Belfast.

 

RIP Sheba

BBC report on her death
BBC News - Chester Zoo's oldest Asian elephant dies

 

All my heart felt condolences go out to all the staff, especially the elephant team who have worked so closely with Sheba. I know they were looking forward to watching the herd keep growing with the new birth and now this horrible news.

 

RIP Sheba at least she had a nice life

 

For those that aren't following on facebook and already seen this, I have put a tribute to Sheba on my Flickr page if anybody is interested - for some reason a direct link didn't work, so it's the first in my photostream 'Sri Lankan elephant.'

http://www.flickr.com/photos/christopherjholland/