People turned out in droves to Auckland Zoo on Sunday as Kashin the elephant celebrated her 40th birthday.
Kashin has been living at the zoo since 1972, and is one of its oldest, most recognised and most beloved animals.
She was transferred to Auckland Zoo as a four year old from a Thailand wildlife facility in 1972.
Spokeswoman Abi Smith says a number of events marked the occasion.
Kashin and Burma treated the crowd to a painting demonstration, before they hopped into the Hippo River for a swim. Kashin loves the river because it takes the weight off her severely arthritic joints, which could lower her chances of reaching the grand age of 50.
Kashin weighs in at a svelte three tonnes. She stands 3.2 metres high and has a massive appetite.
"They eat anywhere from 150-200 kilograms of food a day, that obviously has to come out the other end, so you're looking at picking up 80-100 kilos of waste per day," says keeper :Andrew Coers.
Over her time in the zoo, her surroundings have gone from a stark concrete enclosure in the early 1980s to a much larger and more appropriate space.
"She's matured a lot, she's a very people-orientated elephant," says Coers.
"I hope to see at least another 10 years, but it's really really hard to say. It's really taking each year as it comes and see what happens from there."
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