Washington: The Smithsonian's National Zoo community is mourning the loss of Ambika, the beloved eldest member of its Asian elephant herd. The 72-year-old was humanely euthanized on Friday, following a recent and irreversible decline in her health.

Born in India around 1948, Ambika was the third oldest Asian elephant in the North American population. At 8, the female elephant was captured in the Coorg forest where she worked as a logging elephant until 1961. Ambika was then given to the Zoo as a gift from the children of India.