Elephant Deaths at Facilities Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)

The lives of elephants in zoos typically are far shorter than their 70-year life expectancy. More than half of the 76 elephants who have died at AZA-accredited facilities since 2000 never even reached the age of 40.

Following is a list of elephants who have died at AZA-accredited zoos from 2000 to the present (excluding newborns and infants under the age of 2).

Facility	Date of Death	Elephant	Species	Cause of Death/Ailments	Age
The Dallas Zoo	April 13, 2012	Stumpy	African	Unknown age-related conditions	47 years
Kansas City Zoo	January 24, 2012	Penney	African	Undetermined, though she suffered from arthritis.	51 years
San Diego Zoo	January 4, 2012	Cha Cha	Asian	Euthanized due to deteriorating health following emergency surgery to remove food blocking her esophagus.	43 years
San Diego Zoo	December 25, 2011	Cookie	Asian	Euthanized due to apparent complications from severe arthritis despite being on pain medication.	56 years
San Diego Zoo	November 17, 2011	Umoya	African	Found dead with severe injuries believed to have been caused by another elephant.	21 years
Caldwell Zoo	July 9, 2011	Chico	African	Found unresponsive and later died.	46 years
Little Rock Zoo	July 5, 2011	Ellen	Asian	Formerly from the Engesser Circus, zoo officials say she died of a heart attack or stroke.	60 years
Little Rock Zoo	May 5, 2011	Mary	Asian	Formerly from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, she had terminal tumors.	60 years
Virginia Zoo	April 26, 2011	Monica	African	Euthanized because of deteriorating health.	38 years
Columbus Zoo	February 16, 2011	Coco	Asian	Died more than eight hours after being found lying down.	40 years
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom	January 18, 2011	Taj	Asian	Found standing unsteadily and breathing irregularly before lying down and dying.	71 years
Henry Doorly Zoo	October 16, 2010	Maliaka	African	Died a few hours after being found on her side and unable to get back on her feet.	47 years
Wildlife Safari	October 6, 2010	Tiki	African	Unknown. Her health had been declining for several months.	40 years
Dickerson Park Zoo	August 4, 2010	C.C.	Asian	Had recently been treated for problems, including liver damage and a spinal injury, caused by anti-tuberculocidal medications.	61 years
Louisville Zoo	May 12, 2010	Scotty	African	Euthanized because of complications from colic. Necropsy revealed cause of death was endotoxic shock, a common complication of colic.	3 years
Central Florida Zoo	March 2, 2010	Mary	Asian	Age-related illness.	63 years
Brookfield Zoo	December 22, 2009	Christy	African	Euthanized because of kidney failure.	29 years
Nashville Zoo	December 17, 2009	Kiba	African	Euthanized because of degenerative joint disease.	26 years
Buffalo Zoo	September 28, 2009	Buki	Asian	Declining health, loss of appetite, kidneys not functioning properly.	52 years
Brookfield Zoo	May 15, 2009	Affie	African	Heart failure.	39 years
Disney's Animal Kingdom	March 17, 2009	Tumpe	African	Died after suffering from skin sores and gastrointestinal problems for two months.	24 years
San Diego Wild Animal Park	February 25, 2009	Sunita	Asian	Euthanized because of deteriorating health.	60 years
Houston Zoo	November 9, 2008	Mac	Asian	Herpes Virus	2 years, 8 days
Zoo Atlanta	October 27, 2008	Dottie	African	Acute pneumonia during the third trimester of pregnancy.	26 years
Hogle Zoo	September 9, 2008	Misha	African	Euthanized because of deteriorating health.	27 years
Montgomery Zoo	August 16, 2008	Mary	African	Died just days after giving birth from complications resulting from colic with intestinal rupture.	23 years
Philadelphia Zoo	June 9, 2008	Petal	African	Acute heart and lung failure after she fell on her side while sleeping. Arthritis in her hips, knees, and elbows.	52 years
Dallas Zoo	May 12, 2008	KeKe	African	Euthanized because of congestive heart failure.	39 years
Fort Worth Zoo	January 24, 2008	Babe	Asian	Died while giving birth.	40 years
San Antonio Zoo	November 2, 2007	Alport	African	Died just days after being diagnosed with a serious orthopedic tear. Was struggling to stand or walk.	49 years
Abilene Zoo	August 13, 2007	Tanzy	African	Inability to adequately chew food led to a ruptured gastro-intestinal tract and toxic shock. Suffered from arthritis.	49 years
Birmingham Zoo	June 21, 2007	Mona	Asian	Euthanized after she fell multiple times and was unable to get up.	59 years
San Diego Wild Animal Park	June 19, 2007	Carol	Asian	Euthanized because of degenerative joint disease.	39 years
Woodland Park Zoo	June 8, 2007	Hansa	Asian	Herpes virus.	6 years
Saint Louis Zoo	March 14, 2007	Clara	Asian	Euthanized because of arthritis. The soles of her feet were so eroded that she had to wear sandals.	54 years
Milwaukee County Zoo	September 1, 2006	Lucy	African	Euthanized after she fell multiple times and was unable to get up.	46 years
Oregon Zoo	August 2, 2006	Pet	Asian	Euthanized because of severe arthritis and bone infection.	51 years
Los Angeles Zoo	June 10, 2006	Gita	Asian	Died after collapsing in stall. Suffered from arthritis and foot problems, which resulted in the partial amputation of a toe.	48 years
Knoxville Zoo	March 10, 2006	Mamie	African	Euthanized. Suffered from arthritis and foot problems for at least 15 years.	45 years
Bronx Zoo	February 2006	Samuel R.	Asian	Kidney failure.	14 years
National Zoo	January 25, 2006	Toni	Asian	Euthanized because of chronic arthritis.	40 years
Columbus Zoo	August 23, 2005	Ganesh	Asian	Herpes virus.	7 years
Disney’s Animal Kingdom	May 14, 2005	Ibala	African	Died from severe infection following surgery to remove a dead fetus.	26 years
Lincoln Park Zoo/Hogle Zoo	May 1, 2005	Wankie	African	Collapsed during transport to Hogle Zoo and was euthanized upon arrival.	35 years
San Francisco Zoo	March 24, 2005	Tinkerbelle	Asian	Lived at the San Francisco Zoo for 37 years. The zoo industry delayed her transfer to a sanctuary for nine months. When she finally arrived at the Performing Animal Welfare Society sanctuary, her degenerative joint disease and chronic foot problems were too severe for recovery, and she was euthanized 4 months later.	39 years
Gladys Porter Zoo	March 10, 2005	Macho	African	No information.	41 years
Birmingham Zoo	January 31, 2005	Susie	Asian	No information.	53 years
Lincoln Park Zoo	January 17, 2005	Peaches	African	Euthanized after collapsing in pen.	55 years
Los Angeles Zoo	December 14, 2004	Tara	African	Heart failure after collapsing. Suffered from arthritis.	44 years
Lincoln Park Zoo	October 16, 2004	Tatima	African	Bacterial infection similar to tuberculosis.	35 years
Houston Zoo	September 6, 2004	Kimba	Asian	Herpes virus.	13 years
San Antonio Zoo	May 4, 2004	Ginny	Asian	Euthanized because of severe arthritis and infectious foot ailments.	49 years
Busch Gardens	May 2004	Kaba	Asian	No information.	35 years
San Francisco Zoo	April 22, 2004	Maybelle	African	Heart failure after collapsing. Suffered from arthritis and joint disease.	44 years
Hogle Zoo	March 9, 2004	Kali	Asian	Euthanized after collapsing. Suffered from arthritis.	59 years
San Francisco Zoo	March 7, 2004	Calle	Asian	Euthanized after collapsing. Suffered from degenerative joint disease and a possible relapse of tuberculosis.	37 years
Six Flags Marine World	November 5, 2003	Tina	Asian	Euthanized because of complications of osteomyelitis, severe degenerative joint disease, and chronic foot abscesses.	46 years
Jackson Zoo	November 4, 2003	Marrie	African	Euthanized after a fall. Suffered from arthritis for 20 years.	31 years
Kansas City Zoo	November 3, 2003	Dale	African	Euthanized following illness because of suspected West Nile virus.	25 years
Kansas City Zoo	September 24, 2003	Casey	African	Suffered for years with arthritis and foot infections.	52 years
Brookfield Zoo	June 17, 2003	Mame	African	Euthanized after sustaining severe injuries during an encounter with another elephant.	32 years
Indianapolis Zoo	June 3, 2003	Amali	African	Died two weeks after surgery for an abdominal blockage.	3 years
Rosamond Gifford Zoo	April 12, 2003	Preya	Asian	Herpes virus.	3 years
Busch Gardens	February 12, 2003	Sally	Asian	No information.	36 years
Oregon Zoo	January 20, 2003	Hugo	Asian	No information.	43 years
Dickerson Park Zoo	May 22, 2002	Onyx	Asian	Mesenteric torsion with subsequent intestinal rupture.	38 years
Bronx Zoo	May 16, 2002	Tus	Asian	No information.	49 years
Bronx Zoo	October 3, 2002	Grumpy	Asian	No information.	31 years
Have Trunk Will Travel	August 8, 2002	Amos	Asian	Twisted intestines.	3 years
Dickerson Park Zoo	July 17, 2002	Haji	Asian	Herpes virus.	Almost 3 years
North Carolina Zoo	October 1, 2002	Nita	African	Acute infection.	28 years
Point Defiance Zoo	November 19, 2002	Cindy	Asian	Euthanized when unable to stand. Had suffered crippling arthritis.	40 years
River Banks Zoo	November 13, 2002	Belinda	African	No information.	33 years
Six Flags Marine World	November 25, 2002	Tika	African	Euthanized because of abdominal infection caused by decomposing calf in womb.	24 years
El Paso Zoo	October 7, 2001	Mona	Asian	No information.	47 years
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo	September 18, 2001	Penny	African	No information.	47 years
Denver Zoo	June 7, 2001	Candy	Asian	Euthanized. Was unable to stand after being pushed down by another elephant. Suffered from arthritis and degenerative joint disease.	49 years
Oakland Zoo	March 11, 2001	Smokey	African	Chronic wasting disease.	28 years
Hogle Zoo	March 5, 2001	Toka	Asian	Possible cancer.	37 years
Milwaukee Zoo	January 16, 2001	Babe	African	Died after collapsing in stall.	43 years
Six Flags Marine World	November 29, 2000	Kala	Asian	Herpes virus.	2 years
National Zoo	August 22, 2000	Nancy	African	Euthanized once she started refusing medication for bone infection in toe.	46 years
Saint Louis Zoo	April 11, 2000	Carolyn	Asian	Found dead in stall. Necropsy revealed severe pyelonephritis.	32 years
Gladys Porter Zoo	March 18, 2000	Louella	African	No information.	21 years
Houston Zoo	January 1, 2000	Singgah	Asian	Herpes virus.	6 years

Elephants breed poorly in captivity and experience high infant mortality. Following is a list of newborn and infant (under the age of 2) elephant deaths at AZA-accredited facilities from 2000 to the present.

Facility	Date of Death	Elephant	Species	Cause of Death/Ailments	Age
Memphis Zoo	July 8, 2009	Unnamed	African	The baby stumbled and fell. When the mother, Asali, tried to help the baby stand up, her tusk fatally injured the calf.	2 days
Zoo Atlanta	October 27, 2008	Unnamed	African	Mother Dottie died during the third trimester of her pregnancy.
Montgomery Zoo	September 14, 2008	Unnamed	African	Unknown	5 weeks
San Diego Wild Animal Park	February 4, 2008	Unnamed	African	Euthanized because of malnourishment and staph infection.	9 weeks
Fort Worth Zoo	January 24, 2008	Unnamed	Asian	Babe’s calf died in utero during labor.	Full-term calf
Dickerson Park Zoo	December 1, 2007	Nisha	Asian	Herpes virus.	1½ years
Rosamond Gifford Zoo	June 8, 2006	Unnamed	Asian	Romani's calf died in utero.	Full-term calf
Seneca Park Zoo	February 7, 2006	Unnamed	Asian	Genny C’s calf died in utero and was surgically removed.	Full-term calf
Saint Louis Zoo	November 19, 2005	Unnamed	Asian	Sri's calf died in utero.	Full-term calf
Rosamond Gifford Zoo	August 4, 2005	Kedar	Asian	Died from complications after falling into a swimming pool.	5 days
Disney's Animal Kingdom	April 23, 2005	Unnamed	African	Ibala's baby died in utero.	Full-term calf
Houston Zoo	April 15, 2005	Bella	Asian	Euthanized after failed surgery to repair broken leg.	8 months
Houston Zoo	December 29, 2003	Unnamed	Asian	Methai's full-term calf died one day after birth.	1 day
Fort Worth Zoo	September 19, 2003	Unnamed	Asian	Born 6 months premature to Rasha. Euthanized two days after birth.	2 days
Disney’s Animal Kingdom	April 8, 2003	Unnamed	African	Robin’s calf died in utero.	Full-term calf
Six Flags Marine World	March 21, 2003	Unnamed	African	Misha gave birth to a stillborn calf.	Full-term calf
Six Flags Marine World	October 7, 2002	Unnamed	African	Tika’s calf died in utero during labor.	Full-term calf
Toledo Zoo	July 27, 2002	Unnamed	African	Rafiki gave birth to a stillborn calf.	Full-term calf
Fort Worth Zoo	March 2002	Unnamed	Asian	Babe gave birth to a stillborn calf.	Full-term calf
Kansas City Zoo	September 16, 2001	Unnamed	African	Lady’s calf died in utero.	Full-term calf
Oakland Zoo	September 9, 2001	Dohani	African	Gored to death by her mother.	10 days
Rosamond Gifford Zoo	May 6, 2001	Unnamed	Asian	Targa gave birth to a stillborn calf.	Full-term calf
Dickerson Park Zoo	April 12, 2000	Pete	Asian	Vicky’s calf died eight hours after birth.	Full-term calf

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Elephant Deaths at Facilities Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)

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