Denver Zoo Elephant Humanely Euthanized After Falling Ill
DENVER (CBS4) - A 44-year-old female Asian elephant at the Denver Zoo has died.
Kimbo refused to eat or drink for the past two days and blood tests indicated that she suffered from renal failure, zoo officials said in a statement released Saturday morning.
Kimbo was "humanely euthanized" Friday evening.
"Kimbo was a beautiful and sweet animal. She brought a great amount of joy to all who had the fortune of visiting her. She will be greatly missed," Denver Zoo President and CEO Shannon Block said.
Zoo officials said Kimbo began suffering from abdominal discomfort in late September and slowly lost her appetite.
"Decisions like these are always very difficult and they are not ones we take lightly. Unfortunately, additional diagnostic tests and treatment would require more invasive measures and would not likely resolve her advanced issues," Senior Vice President for Animal Care and Conservation Brian Aucone said. "All these things considered, zoo staff decided that euthanasia was the most humane option,"
Kimbo, believed to be from Thailand, came to Denver from the Fort Worth Zoo 2012.
Additional Information From The Denver Zoo
Kimbo was the first new female elephant to move from another zoo into Toyota Elephant Passage. She was known as a shy girl and was recognized by the freckles on her trunk. Denver Zoo remains home to four other Asian elephants, female Dolly and males Groucho, Bodhi and Billy.
According to the Association of Zoos & Aquariums Asian Elephant Species Survival Plan, the average life expectancy for female Asian elephants in zoos is 46.9 years old.
