Our last African elephant dies

ZOOKEEPERS at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo are mourning the loss of their longest- residing animal, an African elephant named Cuddles, thought to be 46 years old. The elephant, who arrived from the UK for the opening of the zoo in December 1977, died yesterday. Cuddles was battling digestive issues and staff made the “heartbreaking decision” to put her to sleep to prevent further suffering. She was the last African elephant in Australia and will be buried in the zoo grounds. “We are all mourning the loss of this beautiful animal,” the zoo said.