Sydney Morning Herald: A waterskiing elephant whose unique talent garnered her international fame in the late 1950s and early 1960s has died in the southern United States. Queenie was put to sleep earlier this week at the age of 59 after her health deteriorated, according to the theme park in South Georgia where she spent her retirement from performing.The elephant was just six months old when she was bought in a New York City pet store in 1953 by her former owner Liz Dane. Soon after, Dane began training Queenie to waterski at a Florida theme park, where the animal performed her stand-up, lie-down routine to music several times a day for 15 years. She also played the harmonica.
Dane, who performed alongside Queenie, said the death of one of the biggest celebrities of the age was ''extremely sad''.
''I cried, but then when I reflected back on things I realised that it was news I was bracing myself for,'' she said. One of the oldest Asian elephants in North America, Queenie retired to the Wild Adventures water and theme park in 2003.
Al Kordowski, director of zoological operations at the theme park in Valdosta, said the decision was made to euthanase Queenie due to her declining quality of life and chronic health problems.Wild Adventures general manager Bob Montgomery told the Valdosta Daily Times: ''We are comforted by the fact that we were able to give her a great place to live out the rest of her life and are thankful for the time we were able to share her with our guests and our team members. She will be missed.''
The average life expectancy for Asian elephants is between 50 and 70 years.
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