One elephant left at Bronx Zoo following death of another elephant named 'Happy'
The Wildlife Conservation Society decided back in 2006 to stop acquiring new elephants, which means the current elephant, 57-year-old Patty will be the Bronx Zoo’s very last elephant.
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The Bronx Zoo is grappling with the recent death of an elephant named “Happy.” She was in its care for nearly 50 years.
“Some of our keepers worked with her for more than 30 years," said Craig Piper, interim Bronx Zoo director and executive vice president for Wildlife Conservation Society Zoos and Aquarium, "but I think we're all heartened by knowing that she had a good, long life and this was the right time.”
The Asian elephant was euthanized at age 55. The zoo said the decision came after weeks of declining age-related conditions and signs of potential declining liver or kidney function. According to Piper, the median lifespan for Asian elephants in U.S. zoos is 45 years.
Happy garnered national attention when she was the center of an animal rights case back in 2018. Advocates were pushing for elephants to get larger enclosures or be removed from zoos altogether. While some zoos moved elephants to sanctuaries, many zoos remained committed to keeping the animals.
In 2005, Happy also helped give researchers new insight into elephants when she recognized herself in the mirror.
“For those of us who cared for elephants for a long time in our careers, there is nothing new for us in that," Piper said. "Because we all knew that elephants were intelligent animals.”
Now there is just one elephant that remains at the zoo, 57-year-old Patty.
“We gave Patty the opportunity to say goodbye to Happy as well," Piper said. "She's been active, we continue to watch her closely, but she seems to be doing real well right now.”
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) decided that once there was only one elephant left at the zoo, the animal may be moved to another zoo. Right now - the future is unclear for Patty.
“We're going to look at all the options that are available," Piper said, "But the decision will be made by our animal care experts and our veterinarians based on what's best for Patty.”
WCS also decided back in 2006 to stop acquiring new elephants, which means Patty will be the Bronx Zoo’s very last elephant.
“We're going to focus on the work that we do in the field, in both Africa and Asian countries where they are." Piper said, "That was the best use of our financial resources for conservation of elephants, and then we can make space for some other species here at the Bronx Zoo, that we might have breeding programs, that will protect endangered species that way.”
