Ruth, the 66-year-old elephant at the Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford, died Friday after two months in hospice care, officials said. One of the oldest Asian elephants living at an accredited zoo in the United States, Ruth suffered from age-related health issues that affected her mobility, the zoo said in a statement.

Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford is mourning the death of a 66-year-old elephant that has been an iconic member of the zoo for nearly 40 years.

The Buttonwood Park Zoo says that Ruth, a 66-year-old Asian elephant, has died. Ruth had been at the zoo for the past 38-years, but entered hospice care back in October due to age-related decline in mobility.

Ruth, the 66-year-old year Asian elephant who called New Bedford home for the last 38 years, has passed away. A release from the Buttonwood Park Zoo said Ruth was surrounded by her animal and veterinary care team at the time of her passing on Friday.