Keepers at Howletts say they comforted a dying African elephant this week by feeding her bananas.

They are deeply saddened by the loss of Shibi - a 42-year-old female who was one of the oldest and most popular members of the herd.

She had been unwell for some time and is thought to have suffered heart failure which led to her being unable to get to her feet on Tuesday morning, despite attempts to lift her.

Vets at the wild animal park near Canterbury says she was not in pain but could not keep going and took the difficult decision to put her down.

Keepers were beside Shibi in her final hours and say she was still able to enjoy her favourite food of a few bananas.

Affectionately known at the park as 'Auntie Shibi', she came to Howletts from Africa in 1980 aged just four-years-old.

Although she never had calves, she took on a motherly role in the herd supporting matriarch Masa with her young and generally acting as a peacemaker.

Shibi was a favourite among her dedicated keepers and visitors alike.

She had a very curious nature and would often be the first to come over and investigate a photographer which means the team have an abundance of images, documenting her life at Howletts.

Keepers says she was an important member of the herd and a natural mediator and often stepped in to deflect bickers amongst the younger and more boisterous members of the herd.

Howletts Wild Animal Park, Adrian Harland said: ‘Shibi, or Auntie Shibi as we called her, was a wonderful character and we’ll miss her at Howletts. We’re sure our visitors and supporters will be as saddened by the news of her death as we are.

"Her legacy remains in the well-bonded herd, which is largest herd of African elephants in the UK."

Shibi's death reduces the herd to 12 but it is hoped new bull Coco, who arrived from Spain in 2016, will soon breed with some of the females.

In March, a 13-year-old Sumatran tiger called Amir died at the park from a suspected chest infection.