This last weekend, the Henry Doorly Zoo lost one of it’s long time residents.  Maliaka, the 47-year-old African elephant died somewhat unexpectantly.    It was reported that zoo keepers found her laying on her side in the morning and died just a few hours later. 

Maliaka on the left side of image.

This photo was taken back in 2008.   Maliaka is the one on the left side of the Photo.  She came to the zoo when only 3 years old.  So, she had been a member of the zoo family for many years.  Though she leaves us with a sad note of loss for the zoo and all of us zoo members, a ray of sunshine is the plans to expand the pachyderm exhibit to someday hold up to six of these beautiful and majestic animals.  And this hold the promise that the Zoo will be able to continue it’s efforts in maintaining breeding programs for endangered or at risk groups of animals. 

As African Elephants can live to be up to 70 years of age, sadly Maliaka left us perhaps a little too early, but non-the-less, she did share many years with all of us return visitors.  She will be missed.