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Phoenix Zoo's Asian elephant Sheena passes away

elephant eating a melon
Lauren Gilger/KJZZ
Elephant keeper Heather Wright gives Sheena the elephant a honeydew melon.

Sheena, the Phoenix Zoo’s 50-year-old Asian elephant, passed away Monday morning.

She passed away from natural causes but has dealt with chronic osteoarthritis and gastrointestinal issues for many years.

She came from the Ringling Brothers Center for Elephant Conservation in 2000 and has been with the Phoenix Zoo since then.

The average lifespan for Asian elephants is 45 years old.

Reyna Preciado was an intern at KJZZ in 2021.