Thi Ha Way
Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) at
Chester Zoo in United Kingdom

Biography

☨ ♀ Thi Ha Way
March 2008. Photo © Audrey Mealiff

Alternative name:	Thi, Thai

Identification

EEP nr	8201

Description
Species:	Asian elephant (Elephas maximus)
Sex and age:	Female ♀ 38 years old
Origin
Born:	* 1982 unknown
Birth place:	in Myanmar unspecified location
Imported:	1988 by E.A.G. van den Brink
Freight:	By boat from Rangoon, Burma to Rotterdam
Death
Dead:	†2020-09-16
Death reason:	euthanised: arthritis problems
Offspring
Total: 9 babies

1. Born 1993-09-09 (dead † 1993-09-09)	♀ killed

2. Born 1995-12-19 (dead † 1997-05-25)	♀ Karha

3. Born 1997-12-31 (dead † 2018-09-07)	♀ Sithami EEP id: 9710

4. Born 2000-10-07	♂ Assam EEP id: 20004

5. Born 2004-03-05 (dead † 2004-03-05)	♀ stillborn

6. Born 2006-11-12 (dead † 2009-07-23)	♂ Raman

7. Born 2011-01-22 (dead † 2013-06-03?)	♀ Jamilah Hi Way EEP id: 201101

8. Born 2015-08-20 (dead † 2018-10-25)	♀ Nandita EEP id: 201500

9. Born 2018-05-17	♂ Anjan Hi Way EEP id: 201808? (EEP nr N/A)
Locations - owners
Present / last location:	Chester Zoo, in United Kingdom

Date of arrival

1991-10-02	Chester Zoo from London Zoo

1988-12-13	London Zoo from Longleat Safari Park

1988-11-07	Longleat Safari Park from Emmen Zoo

1988-06-27	Emmen Zoo from Soest Zoo

	Soest Zoo from E.A.G. van den Brink

	E.A.G. van den Brink from Yangon Zoo (Rangoon Zoo)

	Yangon Zoo (Rangoon Zoo) from Myanmar unspecified location

Record history
History of updates	2009-03-30: name 2011-06-25: pc 2018-11-24: link to EleWiki submitted 2020-09-16: death report 2021-09-16: Importer van den Brink

Latest document update	2021-09-16 18:59:27
Google map

† Thi Ha Way is a dead Female ♀ Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), , who died 2020-09-16 at Chester Zoo, in United Kingdom, . Official death reason described as arthritis problems.

Offspring

Total: 9 babies

(F) 1993-09-09 -- † 1993-09-09 killed
(F) 1995-12-19 -- † 1997-05-25 Karha
(F) 1997-12-31 -- † 2018-09-07 Sithami EEP id: 9710
(M) 2000-10-07 Assam EEP id: 20004
(F) 2004-03-05 -- † 2004-03-05 stillborn
(M) 2006-11-12 -- † 2009-07-23 Raman
(F) 2011-01-22 -- † 2013-06-03? Jamilah Hi Way EEP id: 201101
(F) 2015-08-20 -- † 2018-10-25 Nandita EEP id: 201500
(M) 2018-05-17 Anjan Hi Way EEP id: 201808? (EEP nr N/A)

Origin

Thi Ha Way was born unknown 1982 at Myanmar unspecified location. and imported 1988 by E.A.G. van den Brink, By boat from Rangoon, Burma to Rotterdam

Comments / pictures

2020-09-16: Thi, who was the long-time Matriarch of the family Herd of Asian elephants at Chester Zoo, had been living with arthritis

Following a period of intensive end-of-life care and an irreversible decline in her condition, the hugely difficult decision was made to put her to sleep.

Reference list

References

Koehl, Dan, (2026). Thi Ha Way, Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) located at Chester Zoo in United Kingdom. Elephant Encyclopedia, available online retrieved 16 January 2026 at https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=580. (archived at the Wayback machine)