Vegan activist Tash Peterson stages protest outside Perth Zoo after death of beloved elephant Tricia

Vegan protester Tash Peterson brought her megaphone to the gates of a zoo where a veteran elephant died this week, clashing with passers-by.

Vegan activist Tash Peterson has protested outside Perth Zoo days after the death of beloved elephant Tricia.

Ms Peterson posted a video of herself to her social media on Saturday, demonstrating at the zoo entrance gates with a megaphone.

Another activist held a sign, urging people to “Watch Dominion on YouTube”, a 2018 Australian documentary that films secret footage from inside farms in a bid to negatively influence public opinion on animal farming.

Ms Peterson, clad in a top with the slogan “vegan forever” down the sleeves, clashed with a couple of passers-by who hurled verbal abuse at her as she protested about animals in captivity.

One man appeared to try and grab her phone, while a young woman attempted to take hold of her megaphone and swore at her.

Peterson clashed with passers-by outside the zoo front gates. Picture: Instagram

“Putting animals in zoos is cruel, barbaric and outdated,” Peterson yelled into the megaphone.

“Wild animals belong in the wild, not in prison in cities.

“Animals are not food, commodities, entertainment, clothing, objects or machines.

“They are people just like us and have the right to live freely from harm.”

The protest comes after the death of Perth Zoo matriarch Tricia – the oldest elephant in Australasia – following “age-related complications” including poor sleep and mobility issues.

The Asian elephant was 65 and believed to be among the oldest in the world.

She died on Wednesday surrounded by zoo staff, some of whom had cared for her for about two decades.

Peterson was verbally abused as she protested about animals held in captivity. Picture: Instagram

There are two other elephants at Perth Zoo – female Permai and male Putra Mas – and Permai refused to leave Tricia’s side for some time following her death.

“Like humans, elephants have a grieving process and Tricia’s loss will be hard for her elephant family,” Perth Zoo said in a social media post.

Tricia came to Perth from Vietnam in January 1963.

Peterson shared images of the protest on her Instagram page.

The zoo on Saturday hosted a memorial walk to honour Tricia, with the walk to remain open for a week to allow people to celebrate the elephant.

The zoo also donated half of all ticket sales on Sunday towards Tricia’s fund, to help protect elephants in the wild and build a guard post in Sumatra.

It’s with a heavy heart that we announce our beloved Asian Elephant, Tricia, has passed away. 💔 pic.twitter.com/DhNbgfrz2b

— Perth Zoo (@PerthZoo) July 6, 2022