'Loneliest elephant in the world' dies in Tokyo zoo after living alone for 67 years

An elephant that lived alone for 67 years in a Tokyo zoo has died in her concrete pen at the age of 69.

Hanako, or "flower child", was described by animal rights campaigners as the loneliest elephant in the world and had been the subject of a global campaign.

She was a gift from the government of Thailand in 1949, and had lived in a small enclosure at Inokashira Park Zoo since she was two years old.

Hanako is believed not to have seen another elephant since arriving in Japan.

Zoo spokesperson Naoya Ohashi said Hanako was discovered lying on her side on Thursday morning and repeated efforts to raise her upright were unsuccessful. She died peacefully in the afternoon.

The elephant's plight became a cause célèbre after photographs of her solitary existence circulated among animal lovers.

Almost 470,000 people signed an online petition set up by Elephant Freedom Fighters demanding that Hanako be allowed to leave her "concrete prison" to live out the rest of her days in a sanctuary in Thailand.

The zoo said the elephant could not be transferred because she was too old to endure the journey.

Independent expert Carol Buckley agreed with the zoo's assessment and said staying in a sanctuary with other elephants would bewilder Hanako after living alone for so many years.

When the zoo put up new fencing for keepers to spend more time with her, Hanako was frightened and refused to go outdoors.

The embassy of Thailand said in a statement that the elephant's death had "saddened the people of Thailand and the people of Japan very much".

"She had been considered Thailand's goodwill ambassador to Japan", the statement added.