Tara the Elephant: Another Elephant Dies at Toronto Zoo
Tara, the African elephant, is dead. The 41-year-old pachyderm died unexpectedly yesterday morning at the Toronto Zoo in Ontario, Canada. According to a press release, staff found the elephant lying down in the Elephant House at about 8:00 A.M.
According to Eric Cole, Supervisor at the Toronto Zoo’s African Savanna section, lying down for extended periods of time causes additional stress on the organs of large animals. Using straps, ropes, a portable winch and backhoe, staff attempted to get Tara back up on her feet. While staff managed to help the elephant stand on her back feet, she was unable to free a front leg that was pinned underneath her. Surrounded by her keepers, she died at 11:00 A.M.
In order for the other elephants in the herd to start the mourning process, her body was moved to the outdoor paddock. The other elephants spent several hours with her body. The 8,500-pound matriarch had not shown any signs of ill-health and was last seen in public last weekend. A post-mortem examination will be held to determine the cause of death. She will be buried at the Zoo.
Born in Southern Africa, Tara arrived at the Toronto Zoo in 1974. “She loved having her face rubbed and would lower her head for this activity,” Cole said. “All the staff who worked with Tara are devastated by this unexpected loss. We will miss her greatly.”
This is the fourth elephant to die at the Toronto Zoo in the past several years. Five months ago, Tessa, a 39-year-old elephant, died after being pushed over by another elephant. In 2008, 38-year-old Tequila died after keepers found her one morning, unable to stand. And Patsy, the former patriarch, was euthanized in 2006. All of the elephants arrived at the zoo in 1974.
The Toronto Zoo participates in several projects that benefits elephants including the Endangered Species Reserve Fund and the Species Survival Plan.
Elephant photo Alex Coles
It’s a very said story.
Bury instead of burn. Why burn her legacy; leave her in the ground to be part of other’s on Earth. Burning is carbon-critical; unless, biohazard is apparent, please consider the better alternative.
Joy,
I believe this article states that “Tara will be buried at the zoo.”
I have been learning about animals of Africa which are either extinct or near too, and this is such a sad event. How many years are Elephants able to live in captivity, b/c 41 years seems like it is a pretty long time for such a large animal to survive outside of its natural lands.