Sukari was born wild in Zimbabwe in 1984 and imported to the United States in 1985. Upon arrival in the US, Sukari was transferred to Reston Animal Park in Vienna, Virginia where she spent almost 15 years as the sole elephant, giving rides and painting for the public. Sukari was transferred to the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere on September 15, 1999 where she lived for 15 years with several other elephants, including Rosie and Hadari. On November 4, 2015, Sukari arrived at The Elephant Sanctuary, becoming the 26th resident.

Sukari, often called “Suki,” was a large elephant with big, round eyes. Her most distinguishing feature was her very long trunk, which she used to roll hay into a ball before eating.

Sukari was often seen wallowing in the mud and ate all types of browse, especially large logs from which she could tusk off the bark. She was not picky about food items, except for beets. True to her name, which means “sweet as sugar” in Swahili, Sukari’s favorite foods were apple-flavored horse treats and bananas. Caregivers noticed she often held her left ear out when she eats.

Sukari spent most of her life being handled under Free Contact in shared spaces with her handlers. After arriving at The Sanctuary, she transitioned to Protected Contact. Always cooperative in her training sessions, Sukari was a fast learner; she knew more than 50 cues and was easily engaged by Care Staff in learning new ones.

At The Sanctuary, Tange and Sukari became inseparable, reuniting occasionally with Flora in the shade of their habitat’s wooded valleys. In the wild, elephants live in a matriarchal society, among a herd of related females. Though The Sanctuary’s herds are made up of unrelated individuals, it is not uncommon to see an elephant take a matriarchal role with others in her social group. We saw Tange take on this role with Sukari, as the two explored the habitat together, venturing regularly to the Pipeline, the Plateau, and the upper East Habitat. 

After over a decade at The Sanctuary, Sukari passed away on March 26, 2026. Longtime supporters may be aware that Sukari experienced intermittent gastrointestinal sensitivity over the years. She showed signs of increasing abdominal discomfort and stopped eating and drinking, prompting a standing sedation procedure for diagnostics and therapeutic hydration. Significant weight loss in spring of 2026 raised new concerns.

Early on March 26, Care Staff observed Sukari down in an area of Redbud Habitat called the Plateau. The Veterinary Team was immediately notified, and specialized equipment and additional support staff were quickly mobilized in an attempt to assist her to a standing position. Sukari was unable to sustain standing and remained in a significantly weakened state. After careful assessment of her condition and quality of life, the Veterinary and Elephant Care Teams made the decision to proceed with humane euthanasia. Sukari passed peacefully, surrounded by the Caregivers who knew and cared for her each day.

Sukari’s companions, Tange and Flora, were given the opportunity to be with her. Tange was observed standing nearby throughout the evening, and there were indications she remained close overnight.