Home / Environment / China's Oldest Elephant Bamo Dies at Shanghai Zoo
China's Oldest Elephant Bamo Dies at Shanghai Zoo
11 Jun
Summary
- Bamo, the oldest male Asian elephant in China, died at age 65.
- He resided at Shanghai Zoo for 53 years, becoming a local icon.
- Specialized care protocols developed for Bamo are now a national standard.
Bamo, the oldest living male Asian elephant in China, died on Sunday at the Shanghai Zoo at the age of 65. He held the record for the longest-lived male Asian elephant in the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens studbook.
Born in Myanmar in 1961, Bamo arrived in China in 1967 and moved to Shanghai in 1973. He spent 53 years at the Shanghai Zoo, becoming its longest occupant and a cherished part of many residents' childhood memories.
Despite his age, Bamo retained a playful nature, interacting with keepers and enjoying enrichment activities. His keepers implemented a comprehensive health management program, adapting his diet and enhancing his enclosure for comfort and mental stimulation.
International experts were consulted to optimize his care. In his final days, Bamo's appetite declined, and his condition worsened. His death leaves a significant void at the zoo, but his legacy includes fathering eight calves and establishing new national standards for elephant care.
