A former well-known Monroe staple passed away Monday at the age of 72. Shirley was the sole elephant at the Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo for 22 years after she arrived in 1977. As requirements changed for keeping elephants in captivity, Zoo Director Tom Pearson said they opted to let Shirley retire.
“And then finally we made the decision that this is not in the best interests for her to be here by herself. So, we made arrangements to get her to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee where she lived out the rest of her years,” said Pearson.
Pearson said since elephants are herd animals, Shirley relocated to the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee where she defied the odds as the Sanctuary’s oldest elephant after her previous circus life and then her residency in Monroe.
“Definitely her going to the Elephant Sanctuary was the best thing, I believe she was also reunited with an elephant she lived with at the circus,” said Pearson.
Pearson said at the Sanctuary, Shirley was able to roam vast the grounds with other elephants and had little human interaction. In 2018 one of her former caretakers in Monroe, Solomon James, was allowed to visit on her birthday.
“Actually, she apparently recognized him and walked up to him, and they a little bit of interaction for a little while. Solomon as you might guess was thrilled,” said Pearson.
At the time of her passing, Shirley held the record for the second oldest elephant in North America.
https://www.elephants.com/news/elenotes/posts/remembering-shirley
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