Exotic Animal Incident Report

Reported: Jun 09, 2008
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Animal: African Elephant
Animal Disposition: dead

Facility Type: Accredited AZA Zoo
Facility Name: Philadelphia Zoo

Category: Animal Death
Species: Elephant

Summary: A 52-year-old African elephant called Petal died at the Philadelphia Zoo. The exact cause of her death was unknown, pending a necropsy. However, in-stall video monitoring tapes showed that early in the morning Petal's right rear leg had buckled, causing her to collapse. She was found by zookeepers later in the morning, lying on her side in her stall. Zookeepers attempted to get her to stand, but she died just a few hours later. According to a zoo official "Petal had been in excellent health ... showing no recent signs of illness or decline."

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal