Jumbo sized celebrations are planned for Sunday 24th January as Tricia, Perth Zoo’s Asian Elephant matriarch celebrates her 59th birthday.

Tricia’s dedicated Zoo Keepers will be treating her to a giant birthday cake made of bran and fruit and are encouraging people to join in the celebrations at the Zoo’s Elephant Amphitheatre at 1:45pm.

Senior Elephant Keeper, Kirsty Carey said: “Tricia is definitely a favourite for the staff at Perth Zoo, but she is also a Perth icon. I’ve even heard her referred to as a ‘Perthanality’!”

“So many Perth locals have childhood memories featuring Tricia.”

“Being such a gentle giant with an easy going nature and great sense of humour, she makes people smile on a daily basis.”

“I certainly feel very privileged to work alongside Perth Zoo’s own celebrity and care for her in her twilight years,” said Kirsty.

Now in the latter years of life, Tricia has started to show her age.

“Elephants go through six sets of teeth through their lifetime and Tricia is on her last set. And just like humans she has started to slow down a bit and has a little less hair,” said Kirsty.

“To help with some age related niggles, Tricia receives deep tissue massages with the assistance of an equine massage therapy backpack.”

“We also do a lot of activities with her everyday including swimming, daily walks around the Zoo, painting and various games to keep her mentally and physically fit.”

“In her 59 years, she’s seen a lot of changes including the transition of Perth Zoo to an organisation which focuses on saving wildlife locally and abroad,” said Kirsty.

Tricia is a big supporter of her wild cousins with proceeds from her paintings and other Zoo fundraising going to fund conservation research and protection units for the critically endangered Sumatran Elephants.

This momentous birthday makes Tricia one of the oldest Asian Elephants being cared for by zoos in Australia. The oldest is ‘Burma’ who resides at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo and is 63 years old.

Facts:
  • Tricia first arrived in Perth from Singapore in 1963;
  • She is one of the longest residents of Perth Zoo;
  • Tricia is named after the 1962 Miss Australia Tricia Reschke;
  • Favourite foods include watermelons, & bananas