Asian elephant Bong Su turns 40 at Melbourne Zoo

The largest animal on the continent has celebrated a major milestone at Melbourne Zoo.

Asian elephant Bong Su celebrated its 40th birthday today, after arriving in Australia from Malaysia as a three-year-old back in 1977.

Bong Su has definitely done its part for the endangered Asian elephant species, fathering four babies as part of the zoo's world class breeding program.

The elephant's biggest legacy, and perhaps most popular was the birth of Mali, Bong Su's only daughter and the first female to be born in Australia.

Keeper Lucy Truelson said forty is a good age.

"Hopefully he will live to about sixty. We are just really proud of him and what he has achieved," she said.