By KHT Staff
KAOHSIUNG — Shoushan Zoo (壽山動物園) announced on Feb. 15 that its long-time resident African elephant “Ali” (阿里), a fixture for generations of Kaohsiung residents, died peacefully in the early hours of Feb. 14 at the age of 52.
In a statement posted on its official social media page, the zoo said Ali showed no obvious abnormalities in recent days but suddenly lost consciousness and was found deceased overnight. The zoo will commission the veterinary hospital at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (屏東科技大學) to conduct a detailed examination to clarify the cause of death.
Staff described Ali as intelligent, playful, and strong-willed, often “testing” keepers to gauge their patience and attentiveness. Only those who earned her trust could approach to feed or care for her at close range, making her one of the zoo’s most recognizable and distinctive animals.
News of her death prompted an outpouring of public mourning online, with many residents recalling childhood visits and describing Ali as a shared memory for Kaohsiung families over the past half-century.
Source: CTi News
