Weighing in at 15,000 pounds, Tonka was the largest male African elephant in the U.S., according to wildlife officials. His keepers and those who got to know him at Zoo Knoxville over the years are now mourning his loss. Tonka died May 8 at the age of 46 after being placed into hospice a few days earlier, the zoo shared in a news release.

In perhaps what is the most powerful remembrance possible, his memory will live on with the generations of Knoxvillians who are sharing their stories of the ways he touched them,” Tina Rolen, a Zoo Knoxville spokesperson,

According to Zoo Knoxville, an elephant named Tonka was euthanized Wednesday due to her deteriorating health. Tonka was the last elephant at the zoo, and the team had just placed him in hospice care because of his declining health and an injury to his left front leg.

Zoo Knoxville knew it would be saying goodbye to its last remaining elephant this year, but the farewell was much sadder than expected. The zoo said Thursday that it had euthanized Tonka, a 46-year-old bull elephant that had called the zoo home for the last 43 years.

The 46-year-old elephant was beloved by guests and zookeepers and was one of the oldest and largest African elephants in North America.