Hanako, the “loneliest elephant in the world” has died at a small zoo in Tokyo. She was the oldest elephant in Japan and had lived alone at the zoo for 67 years. Hanako’s health deteriorated in March after her birthday celebrations where cancelled. She was the subject of a worldwide campaign to free her from her isolated concrete environment. She was found dead lying on her side in her pen on Thursday. She was 69. Daily Mail reports: Hanako, or ‘flower child’, who was described by campaigners as the ‘loneliest elephant in the world’, died at the age of 69 at Inokashira Park Zoo in the Japanese capital. She was a gift from the Thai government in 1949 and had lived at the park since she was two. She was Japan’s oldest elephant and had a long life for captive Asian elephants. Zoo spokesman Naoya Ohashi said Hanako was discovered lying on her side on Thursday morning and repeated efforts to raise her upright were not successful. She died peacefully in the afternoon. He said an autopsy would be conducted to determine the cause. Regardless of age, an elephant that remains on its side for a long time can suffer organ [...]