Kashin Memorial Day

Kashin Memorial Day

Kashin Memorial Day – Sunday 30 August 2009

Thank you to all of the 18,600 people who came along to celebrate Kashin's life.  We have posted a selection of photos from the day below.

TVNZ story of the event (link to TVNZ site and video story)
TV3 story of the event (link to TV3 site and video story)

30 September 2009 : Zoo thanks all for support since Kashin's passing

Six weeks since the passing of Kashin Auckland Zoo's remaining elephant, 26-year-old female Burma, is enjoying the security of her keepers and coping well without her long-time companion.

"The elephant team is doing an amazing job – keeping Burma in a regular but varied routine that includes daily workouts, scrub-downs and walks through the zoo. How well she is doing is testament to the incredible relationship our handlers have with her," says Auckland Zoo curator Brooke Noonan.

"The fantastic support we have received has been overwhelming, and has helped the elephant team and all zoo staff tremendously. We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone for this wonderful support, which has come in so many different ways," says Ms Noonan.

Elephant section team leader Andrew Coers says since the day Kashin died, the zoo and the elephant team has received thousands of cards, letters, photographs, emails, flowers, and even fruit for Burma, along with donations to the Kashin Elephant Conservation Fund.

"It's just been incredible, and on behalf of the team, I'd like to express our personal appreciation for this heart-felt support, which has been crucial in helping us deal with the loss of Kashin," says Andrew.

The zoo's top priority remains acquiring a companion for Burma. It is working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry (MAF) and thanks to MAF's hard work and support, an Import Health Standard to be able to bring elephants into New Zealand could be developed in as soon as six months time. (Normally this process takes two years). Along with this, the zoo is investigating potential opportunities to acquire elephants.

In Kashin's memory, the zoo has set up the Kashin Elephant Conservation Fund to support the conservation of elephants in the wild, which since Kashin's death, has raised over $5000. This is in addition to the $5000 contributed to the Trees for Elephants programme in Thailand, and the zoo's ongoing annual commitment of $25,000 to fund Wildlife Protection Units in Sumatra.

Donations to the Kashin Elephant Conservation Fund can be made on site at the zoo, at any ASB branch, or online (via Internet Banking) using the account number A/c 12-3205-0127076-00.

Photos from Kashin's memorial day