Asian elephant Daya dies at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo

Asian elephant Daya. Courtesy of the Tokyo Zoological Park Society

TOKYO — A female Asian elephant, whose estimated age is 44, has died, the Ueno Zoological Gardens in Taito Ward, Tokyo, announced Wednesday.

The elephant, named Daya, was born in India around 1977, and was donated by then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984. She had been in the care of Ueno Zoo since that time.

Daya had suffered weight loss and anemia, among other symptoms, since the end of last year. She had been undergoing treatment, but died Tuesday afternoon. The zoo will investigate the cause of death.

The life expectancy of Asian elephants is about 60 years.

Currently, a male and two female Asian elephants remain in the zoo.