Photo: San Antonio Zoo/facebookA former circuselephantwill spend the remainder of her years at a sanctuary in Tennessee after living among a small elderly herd atSan Antonio Zoosince 2016.Nicole, a 48-year-old Asian elephant, was part of a senior trio dubbed the Golden Girls.Karen died in March last year at the age of 52, andLucky died eight months later at the age of 62.San Antonio Zoo president and CEO Tim Morrow said the Golden Girls “inspired visitors to care for and want to protect elephants from extinction.” He added, “we are going to miss Nicole dearly … We are grateful for the years she spent with us as one of the Golden Girls. She and Karen bonded beyond expectations with Lucky.“TheTexas zoohas been acclimatizingNicoleto a crate over the past month, which she will be transported in during the 800-mile journey to the sanctuary.San Antonio Zoo/facebook"Nicole is actually used to traveling,” said Rachel Malstaff, director of mammals at the San Antonio Zoo.“Before joining the Golden Girls in Bahiti Waters, Nicole was part of a traveling circus. She was naturally curious and quickly comfortable when we introduced her to the transportation crate. I have no doubts that the trip will go smoothly, and this sweet elephant will feel right at home when she arrives,” she said.Nicole will join nine other elephants at the sanctuary, who are all aged between 37 and 60.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.San Antonio Zoo/facebookTheaverage lifespan of an Asian elephant is 47.5, according to the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. The species are designated as critically endangered, and theWorld Wildlife Fund estimates there are less than 52,000 Asian elephantsleft in the wild.San Antonio Zoo plans to join the current elephant and giraffe habitats to create an expanded savanna area at the Texas park.
Photo: San Antonio Zoo/facebook
A former circuselephantwill spend the remainder of her years at a sanctuary in Tennessee after living among a small elderly herd atSan Antonio Zoosince 2016.Nicole, a 48-year-old Asian elephant, was part of a senior trio dubbed the Golden Girls.Karen died in March last year at the age of 52, andLucky died eight months later at the age of 62.San Antonio Zoo president and CEO Tim Morrow said the Golden Girls “inspired visitors to care for and want to protect elephants from extinction.” He added, “we are going to miss Nicole dearly … We are grateful for the years she spent with us as one of the Golden Girls. She and Karen bonded beyond expectations with Lucky.“TheTexas zoohas been acclimatizingNicoleto a crate over the past month, which she will be transported in during the 800-mile journey to the sanctuary.San Antonio Zoo/facebook"Nicole is actually used to traveling,” said Rachel Malstaff, director of mammals at the San Antonio Zoo.“Before joining the Golden Girls in Bahiti Waters, Nicole was part of a traveling circus. She was naturally curious and quickly comfortable when we introduced her to the transportation crate. I have no doubts that the trip will go smoothly, and this sweet elephant will feel right at home when she arrives,” she said.Nicole will join nine other elephants at the sanctuary, who are all aged between 37 and 60.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.San Antonio Zoo/facebookTheaverage lifespan of an Asian elephant is 47.5, according to the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. The species are designated as critically endangered, and theWorld Wildlife Fund estimates there are less than 52,000 Asian elephantsleft in the wild.San Antonio Zoo plans to join the current elephant and giraffe habitats to create an expanded savanna area at the Texas park.
A former circuselephantwill spend the remainder of her years at a sanctuary in Tennessee after living among a small elderly herd atSan Antonio Zoosince 2016.
Nicole, a 48-year-old Asian elephant, was part of a senior trio dubbed the Golden Girls.Karen died in March last year at the age of 52, andLucky died eight months later at the age of 62.
San Antonio Zoo president and CEO Tim Morrow said the Golden Girls “inspired visitors to care for and want to protect elephants from extinction.” He added, “we are going to miss Nicole dearly … We are grateful for the years she spent with us as one of the Golden Girls. She and Karen bonded beyond expectations with Lucky.”
TheTexas zoohas been acclimatizingNicoleto a crate over the past month, which she will be transported in during the 800-mile journey to the sanctuary.
San Antonio Zoo/facebook
“Nicole is actually used to traveling,” said Rachel Malstaff, director of mammals at the San Antonio Zoo.
“Before joining the Golden Girls in Bahiti Waters, Nicole was part of a traveling circus. She was naturally curious and quickly comfortable when we introduced her to the transportation crate. I have no doubts that the trip will go smoothly, and this sweet elephant will feel right at home when she arrives,” she said.
Nicole will join nine other elephants at the sanctuary, who are all aged between 37 and 60.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Theaverage lifespan of an Asian elephant is 47.5, according to the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. The species are designated as critically endangered, and theWorld Wildlife Fund estimates there are less than 52,000 Asian elephantsleft in the wild.
San Antonio Zoo plans to join the current elephant and giraffe habitats to create an expanded savanna area at the Texas park.
source: people.com
