Your condolences and memories of Kashin the Elephant

Updated: 1:37PM Monday September 7, 2009

Auckland Zoo's iconic elephant Kashin died yesterday.

The female Asian elephant, who had chronic arthritis and foot abscesses, was euthanised after her health deteriorated.

Auckland Zoo senior vet Richard Jakob-Hoff said staff had monitored the elephant for several months, but her condition became significantly worse over the weekend.

Here is the latest selection of your condolences and memories of Kashin the Elephant:

Kate Bennett (Auckland)
Monday September 7, 2009 Wow I remember the elephant rides when I was young. Going up the long stairway to sit on her back. I lived very close by the zoo and every holidays it was one of my favourite memories.

I hope that they do replace and its a pity that they stopped the rides and also the monkey tea parties. What great memories and pictures I have to show both my children and future generations.

I hope she rests in peace she has brought a lot of enjoyment and memories for myself and my family.

Christine McCown (United States of America)
Wednesday September 2, 2009 I was saddened to hear of the loss of Kashin. Kashin was a part of my childhood that I will always remember. I loved being able to touch, smell and feed the elephant. Kashin was always the highlight of my visits to the Auckland Zoo. I hope that the zoo are able to get another elephant for the next generations to be able to touch and love like we all did!

TTF (Auckland)
Tuesday September 1, 2009 You people treat, love and care more elephants such as this than you do for the poor and hungry people in this country and many other poor countries. So typical of animal huggers but their fellow human beings are dying/suffering from hunger and poverty

There is lots of money there wasted on the elephant and the zoo that ought to be spent on the poor and very young kids, and no wonder they grow up and hit back hard at the society

Deal to Crims (Rotorua)
Monday August 31, 2009 There is a huge debate about to get underway about possible mining and the effects on the landscape and yet an animal dies - something that happens on a daily basis right around the country - and in come the diggers to excavate a gigantic hole to bury Kashin.
No debate whatsoever, just dig the hole in the middle of public land in the middle of Auckland.

Aren't humans funny things.

Haymaiden (Matamata)
Monday August 31, 2009 My memory of Kashin. One day when she was out walking, my younger brother of 3 years old who loved elephants ran up to her and even though we all called him back and her trainer was so worried that Kashin would hurt him, all she did was give him a big kiss on his cheek with her trunk, which scared him enough that he came running back crying, but it was amazing and now we are a lot older but I have never forgotten your nice nature and the kiss that something that big had laid on my brothers cheek.

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