‘Most beloved elephant in Japan’ dies, aged 69

This handout picture taken on May 26, 2016 and provided by Inokashira Park Zoo shows Japan's oldest elephant "Hanako," who died on May 26 at the age of 69 in Tokyo. - AFP.

TOKYO: Japanese animal lovers were mourning the death of the country’s oldest elephant, Hanako, on Friday, who passed away  “quietly” aged 69 after triggering protests over her captivity.

Hanako, which means “Flower Child” in Japanese, became something of a cause celebre last year following an international campaign to improve the ageing pachyderm’s cramped living conditions.