Sendai zoo tailors care for Japan's oldest African elephant

Mary, the oldest African elephant in Japan, lives at Yagiyama Zoological Park in Sendai, northeastern Japan. Currently estimated to be 60 years old, Mary is the longest-living African elephant in the country. The zoo staff have implemented various measures to ensure her comfortable living in her later years. On September 27, the zoo hosted an event to celebrate Mary turning an estimated 60, drawing admiring reactions from about 100 attendees, including families with children.

Mary stands about 3.8 meters long and 2.5 meters tall and weighs around 4 tons. She was born in Africa in 1966 and moved to Yagiyama Zoological Park in 1983 after living at Miyazaki Safari Park for a year. Zookeepers describe Mary as calm and straightforward in temperament, often playing by throwing sand over her body. Due to the risk of becoming unable to stand, the staff check her condition daily.

They also practice raising and lowering her legs and holding her ears forward to prepare her for potential treatments like injections. Mary's diet is specially tailored as she is believed to be using her final set of teeth, and her age has made it hard for her to bite through long pieces of grass. To prevent tooth wear, keepers chop fresh grass and straw into smaller pieces using a cutting machine.

They also add supplements to bananas to support Mary's joint movement. Mary is particularly sensitive to cold, so she spends more time in a heated indoor enclosure during winter. Despite her advanced age, Mary remains popular with visitors, with an afternoon feeding experience being a beloved attraction for over 15 years.