The San Diego Zoo’s oldest Asian elephant — a 59-year-old pachyderm named Mary — was euthanized at the zoo Tuesday after age-related joint ailments that affected her daily activity worsened, officials said.

The elephant — an endangered species born in the wild in Thailand in 1964 — first lived at a zoo in Cleveland before being obtained by the Baton Rouge Zoo in 1969. She came to San Diego Zoo Safari Park near Escondido in 1980 and was moved to the San Diego Zoo in 2009, according to “stud book” records kept by zoological officials that tracked elephant lineage.

With the death of Mary — the last Asian elephant — the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park now only have African elephants in their collections. The San Diego Zoo has three elephants — a female named Shaba, and males named Tsandzikle and Inhlonipho. There are nine elephants at the Safari Park.

After Mary’s death, zookeepers made sure Shaba, the elephant that lived with Mary, was given the opportunity to “see her and make her goodbyes.”

“The San Diego Zoo family is heartbroken to share the passing of Mary, a geriatric Asian elephant. Mary had been under veterinary care, including hydrotherapy and physical therapy to alleviate age-related joint ailments for some time,” the zoo said a statement posted on Facebook and Instagram. “Unfortunately, despite these therapies, Mary’s mobility had declined, affecting her daily activity.

“After monitoring her closely and evaluating her quality of life, Mary’s health and care specialists made the difficult decision to compassionately euthanize her.”

Zoo officials said Mary’s “gentle presence” will be missed.

“Please take a moment to offer your condolences to all who are feeling this loss,” zoo officials said. “We thank you for your support during this difficult time. “

While living at Safari Park — then known as the Wild Animal Park — Mary gave birth to two stillborn calves, one in 1989 and the other in 1991.

In 2009, she was transferred to the San Diego Zoo when the Elephant Odyssey habitat opened. The habitat includes an Elephant Care Center which is “specially equipped to attend to the needs of elderly elephants,” officials said.

Zoo officials said Mary had “a uniquely dominant personality but also a peaceful presence that was a comfort to other elephants.” Wildlife care specialists say she was gentle around zoo workers and guests, and was very accepting of new elephants who arrived at the zoo.

“As an ambassador for her species, Mary helped educate guests on the difference between Asian and African elephants, the threats they face, and how we adapt our care for aging animals,” the statement said. “Mary’s physical therapy and palliative care also made her a relatable presence for humans experiencing similar ailments.”

The loss of Mary comes six months after zoo medical staff euthanized Devi, a 45-year-old Asian elephant. At the time, Devi was the second oldest elephant at the zoo.

“The grief of Mary’s passing is only assuaged by the countless lives that she touched,” Greg Vicino, the zoo’s interim vice president of wildlife care, said in a statement. “She brought people into contact with a wild they could only imagine, and through her care we learned more about the behavior, physiology, and the psychology of one of the world’s most iconic species.”

Elephants are considered highly social animals with extremely complex behaviors, and they can show empathy, engage in problem solving and communicate with each other. After Devi was euthanized in November, zoo workers also allowed Mary and Shaba to see Devi and make their goodbyes, officials said at the time.

Asian elephants are classified as an endangered species, with around 46,000 remaining in the wild, according to a 2018 estimate. It is unclear how long they can live in captivity.

In November, when Devi died, a San Diego Zoo factsheet said Asian elephants could live 60 to 70 years in the wild and had noted the oldest in “managed care” lived about 80 years. That web page has since been revised and now says that female elephants in “managed care” have a “median life expectancy of about 47-48 years.”

The National Zoo’s website offers similar information: “Evidence suggests that Asian elephants typically live into their mid-50s, but there is not enough consistent data available on wild Asian elephants to accurately estimate their lifespan. Median life expectancy for female Asian elephants is 47 years old.”

This is the fourth time in recent years the zoo has euthanized an older elephant experiencing health issues.

In 2016, Ranchipur, a 50-year-old Asian elephant, was euthanized after he became weak and did not respond to emergency treatment. He had been at the zoo for 35 years. In 2019, the zoo euthanized Tembo, an African bush elephant, after what was said to be a “sudden change” in her condition. She was 48 and had been at the zoo for 36 years.