Shirley — The Third-Oldest Elephant In North America — Has Turned 72 Years Old

Jul 11, 2020 by apost team

Birthday celebrations are formally in motion for an elephant named Shirley who turned 72 years old on July 6, 2020. The momentous occasion was marked with a full-blown ceremony at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Luckily, this precious birthday celebration was caught on camera for everyone’s enjoyment. As North America’s third oldest elephant, this benevolent creature has officially reached legendary status.

The cheerful gathering was topped off with a fantastic feast. According to The Elephant Sanctuary's press release, Shirley's birthday meal included "a strawberry-topped vegan cake, watermelon wedges, rice paper balloons, and banana leaves." They also included hay bales, a birthday banner, and her favorite bananas. After nibbling banana leaves and munching on melon slices, Shirley ate the entire cake in a single bite, but she slyly kept a dollop of frosting on her trunk as a snack for later.

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Seven decades is a long time by any living being’s standards, but Shirley boasts a particularly storied history. As it stands, this glorious mammoth has witnessed a lot in her well-traveled life. She was first taken from the wilderness at the age of five, and her captors reportedly sold her to the infamous Kelly-Miller traveling circus, according to The Elephant Sanctuary's website. The carnival act took Shirley around the globe, and she was even part of an international fiasco when Fidel Castro seized the troupe while they were passing through Cuba. Their inability to leave the island nation was used by the dictator as a geopolitical negotiation tactic.

Other notable events in Shirley’s life include a 1963 ship fire in Nova Scotia. The engine room blaze left her with permanent scarring, and she even lost a portion of her right ear. By 1975, ownership had been transferred to Lewis Brothers Circus. During a performance with them, Shirley was maimed by another elephant in the group. She performed for two more years, which caused the broken bone in her leg to heal irregularly. Ultimately, this wizened animal has overcome more than her fair share of turmoil, but it only adds to the immensity of her enlightened character.

Shirley arrived at Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo in 1977, according to The Elephant Sanctuary's website. She was the only member of her species in the Monroe facility until 1999. After more than 22 years at the zoo, the majestic mammal finally retired to The Elephant Sanctuary, which is located near Nashville. This remarkable foundation provides individualized care to aging elephants in a magnificently tailored environment. This humanitarian outlet just marked its 25th anniversary, and they are really making a massive difference for these gentle giants. As you can see, they are fulfilling a wonderfully charitable mission.

These days, Shirley likes to spend her afternoons moseying by the lake and chomping grass as she strolls through the tranquil paradise. Her human interactions are minimized to ensure that she gets to relax and pursue a normal stress-free existence. She is retired after all, and she has definitely earned the right to take it easy in her golden years.

Fortunately, technology now gives us the chance to stay in tune with these beautiful beings from afar. You can always check up on Shirley and the gang by tuning into the center’s official Elecam, which offers three live-feeds for real-time viewing of these extraordinary animals in their natural abode.

Help us wish Shirley a happy birthday by passing this article on to your friends and family members. And let us know what you think about Shirley's life story. What most surprised you about her 70 plus years on this planet?