Melbourne Zoo elephant Mali turns eight

MELBOURNE Zoo’s elephant Mali has turned eight, another landmark for the elephant who was the first of her kind born in Australia through artificial insemination.

WHILE kids around the country celebrate their birthdays with party pies and ice-cream cake, Melbourne Zoo had something healthier in store for a local favourite.

Among the tasty delights for Mali’s eighth birthday were sweet potato iceblocks, frozen watermelon and a mountain of lemongrass and lettuce.

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Mali enjoying her birthday treats. Picture: Alex Coppel

Mali was also the face of the Zoo’s 150th anniversary celebrations. Picture: Alex Coppel

Mali, whose name means jasmine in Thai, became a crowd favourite in 2012 as the face of the zoo’s 150th birthday celebrations.

She was the first female elephant born in the zoo’s history and the first elephant in Australia born as a result of artificial insemination.

In a sign of her growing independence, Mali took first pick of the glorious buffet before letting mum, Dokkoon, and four-year-old brother Man Jai, join her for the birthday celebration.

The Zoo keepers involved with making Mali’s 'cake'. Picture: Alex Coppel

“She came straight down to the food and was very dainty about it all,” said the Zoo’s communications manager, Judith Henke.

“It was all extremely harmonious and no one missed out.”

As for Mali’s favourite treat, the carrot ‘birthday candles’ were saved just for her.