Staff at the Los Angeles Zoo noticed something strange Tuesday evening. Shaunzi, a 53-year-old elephant who moved there in 2017, was down in her exhibit.
Shaunzi seemed unable to stand up, said a press release from the zoo.
Animal care staff and veterinarians rushed to the exhibit, located in the Thai Yard Section of the zoo’s Elephants of Asia area. They worked through the night to help the elephant get up. Sadly, their efforts were unsuccessful.
“The incident resulted in the heartbreaking decision to sedate and euthanize Shaunzi in the early morning hours of Jan. 3,” the zoo said. “The Los Angeles Zoo staff is devastated by this loss. The care and wellbeing of the elephants and all of the animals at the Zoo is always a top priority. The responsibility of keeping animals is a privilege and the Zoo is committed to providing the highest standard of care to ensure the animals’ health and their ability to thrive.”
Before coming to the Los Angeles Zoo, Shaunzi lived most of her life as a circus elephant. She was born in Thailand and eventually arrived in California in 1983, first living at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. When she came to Los Angeles, Shaunzi was accompanied by three other elephants – Tina, Jewel, and Billy.
Jewel was euthanized last January at age 61 due to “declining quality of life” according to the Los Angeles Times. Tina, 58 and Billy, 39, are still alive.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, elephants in the wild can survive 50 to 60 years and the International Fund for Animal Welfare said Asian elephants like Shauinzi can live 60 to 70 years in the wild. While the Humane Society said elephants can live better lives in the wild, it also noted that they are targeted by poachers for their ivory tusks.
“Asian elephants are endangered due to habitat loss caused by human activities such as agriculture, infrastructure development, and urbanization, as well as poaching and hunting,” said the IFAW.
Last May, the oldest elephant at the San Diego Zoo, a 59-year-old Asian elephant named Mary, was euthanized after age-related joint ailments that affected her daily activity worsened, per the San Diego Union-Tribune. A 72-year-old elephant named Ambika “the beloved eldest member” of the Smithsonian National Zoo herd, was euthanized in 2020 due to a health decline.
This February will mark the 21st anniversary of elephant Lin Wang’s death at 86 years old in Taiwan. Lin Wang was the oldest elephant to live in captivity, according to Guinness World Records.
“Shaunzi lived a full life and was an ambassador for her species,” said the Los Angeles Zoo. “She helped Angelenos learn about her wild counterparts and the challenges they face in their native range. The species is classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with only an estimated 40,000 individuals remaining in the wild. Elephants have been hunted illegally for their tusks, and much of their habitat has been fragmented and destroyed.”
This Saturday at 5:30 p.m. PT, animal rights activists plan to hold a candlelight vigil for elephants who have died in captivity. It was planned before Shaunzi’s passing, said the Los Angeles Times.