Perth Zoo matriarch Tricia the elephant has died aged 65.
She was the oldest elephant to be cared for by a zoo in Australasia, and one of the oldest elephants in the world.
Tricia's health had been monitored closely by vets and her keepers at the zoo for many years, with the elderly Asian elephant receiving treatment and supportive care for "various age-related complaints", but her health deteriorated rapidly over the past week.
Premier Mark McGowan paid tribute to Tricia, saying she was a household name for WA families.
"Her stature and her grace were compelling, and for six decades she was an integral part of any visit to Perth Zoo," he wrote on social media.
"Tricia is now at peace after she passed away earlier this evening."
He said staff at Perth Zoo had been humanely caring for Tricia and ensured she was as comfortable as possible in her final moments.
"They treated her with the love, dignity and respect she deserved," he said.
"Tricia brought so much joy to so many families, and her memory will live on in all those who visited her."
WA's environment minister Reece Whitby also paid tribute to Tricia, saying she left many memories and was "an icon forever in our hearts". From Vietnam to Australia
Tricia arrived in Perth in January 1963, making the journey from Ho Chi Minh City — then Saigon — via Singapore.
