Umeko was presumed to be 3 years old when she came to Odawara Castle in 1950, and she died in 2009, at the age of 62 . These photos were taken in 2007 when Umeko was 60 years old. I have to admit, given the less then adequate conditions and a lifetime of "solitary confinement" she was in remarkably good shape, although I can't speak for her mind. Another conformation/look different from the lanky pin headed/thin trunked elephant is an elephant like Umeko. Stout/heavy jawed and thick trunked, even with the sunken temples of age they don't physically deteriorate at much as different conformed elephants. It is hard to explain, other then as an exception, in the present environment of large enclosures and herd situations how this animal apparently prospered?
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