Tami, believed to be the oldest hippopotamus in captivity, died on Thursday at the age of 59 in her sleep at Jerusalem�s Biblical Zoo.

She was found dead in the lake of the African-themed area where she lived in the Israeli zoo.

Tami was the only hippo at the zoo after the death of her partner Matti, a male, in 2006. Matti, 30, died after swallowing a tennis ball.

In a statement, the zoo said “she died at an advanced age, surrounded by lots of love and respect.�

�It is a difficult day for us,� zoo employee Gilad Moshe told the Israel Hayom newspaper. �A little like losing a friend.�

Hippos tend to live for 40-50 years. The mostly herbivorous and semi-aquatic animals are found in central and southern Africa.