47-yr-old Indian elephant Sujatha euthanised
WASHINGTON: Sujatha, a 47-year-old Indian elephant at a popular zoo in the US state of California, has been euthanised after the “beloved” animal failed to respond to an array of treatments employed to address her old age complications.
The Santa Barbara Zoo announced on Wednesday the passing of Sujatha, one of its two Asian elephants. Sujatha arrived at the zoo from India in 1972 at the age of one-and-a-half years with her companion Little Mac. The 46-year-old companion was given immediate access in order to grieve.
CEO Rich Block of the Santa Barbara Zoo said Sujatha’s death “is perhaps the most difficult moment in 20 years” for him. “She had been a beloved member of the Santa Barbara community ever since,” he said. “It is with broken hearts we announce the passing away of 47-year-old Sujatha, one of the Santa Barbara Zoo’s two Asian elephants,” he said.
Sujatha is considered elderly for her species and had been facing age-related challenges over the past three years, Block said. “We employed an array of treatments to address her challenges and pain, including laser therapy, stem cell treatments, physical therapy, hydrotherapy and medications.
“In the last two weeks, her health worsened dramatically. After exhausting all options to help Sujatha, the difficult decision was made to humanely euthanise her last night (Tuesday),” he said.