It's really a testament to Melbourne's staff that she's made it this far. She's going through her fair share of health issues, and has also seen a drastic change in the way Zoos Victoria have exhibited elephants - thinking back to when she arrived from Malaysia as only a calf and used to live in the tiny concrete enclosure alongside Bong Su, then eventually living in a more progressive habitat with the arrival of additional cows, and consequently, calves. And now the huge, innovative complex at Werribee. As the matriarch of the herd she will continue to play a pivotal role within the herd for years to come.
It would've been fascinating to see how Bong Su would've taken to the new complex considering he often had behaviours engrained from his previous way of living and wasn't the most 'active' elephant. Still, I remember reading about his reaction when entering the pool in TOTE for the first time; vocalising in joy whilst swimming - it was his first time in a pool where he could fully submerge. One can only imagine how he would've utilised the huge pool at Werribee.
