Auckland City Council

Media release

24 August 2010

Auckland Zoo event to remember Kashin one year on

One year on since the passing of Auckland Zoo’s much-loved Asian elephant Kashin, the Zoo is to celebrate her life with a day of festivities this Saturday, 28 August from 10am to 3.30pm.

The Sri Lankan-themed ‘Celebrating Kashin’ day will include live entertainment, face painting and other fun activities for kids, a special encounter with the Zoo’s elephant, Burma, and opportunities to view videos of Kashin.

Raj tents will feature market stalls where visitors can purchase unique Sri Lankan gift products (produced from paper made with elephant dung!) paintings by our elephant, Burma, and commemorative Kashin posters. In addition, a Sri Lankan street stall in front of Darwin’s café will be offering authentic Sri Lankan food.

Visitors will also have the chance to visit Kashin’s gravesite, which is not normally open to the public, and where a memorial plaque has been created in her honour.

Auckland Zoo director, Jonathan Wilcken, encourages everyone who has memories of Kashin to come along.

“After seeing over 18,000 people come to Kashin’s Memorial Day last year, it was clear that Kashin had indeed had a profound effect on many Aucklanders.

“We hope that everyone can join us again this year to celebrate the legacy that Kashin created as an ambassador, not just for Asian elephants, but for many other endangered South East Asian species, that like elephants, are doing it so tough in the wild,” says Mr Wilcken.

Appropriately, Kashin’s legacy will continue, as all the money from Zoo admissions and proceeds from elephant-related merchandise will go to the Kashin Elephant Conservation Fund to directly support the conservation of elephants in the wild. 

“Just by coming along to the Zoo this Saturday and celebrating Kashin, you’ll be joining us in helping to raise thousands of dollars to further the support we give to protecting elephants in the wild and restoring elephant habitat,” says Mr Wilcken.

Celebrating Kashin is supported by ASB. The rain date for this event is Sunday, 29 August.  Visit www.aucklandzoo.co.nzor phone 360 3805 for more information.

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