LEWIS COUNTY, Tenn. — Caregivers surprised Shirley the elephant with a strawberry-topped, vegan cake and an array of watermelon wedges, rice paper balloons and banana leaves for her 72nd birthday.
Shirley is the oldest elephant at the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee and is the third oldest elephant in North America, according to the sanctuary. She has lived at the sanctuary for 21 years.
Shirley has lived an interesting life. After being born in Sumatra in 1948, she was captured from the wild and made to perform in a traveling circus for more than 20 years, according to the sanctuary. The sanctuary also she survived capture from Fidel Castro's forces.
More information about Shirley can be found on the sanctuary's website.
IN OTHER NEWS:
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: