SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Zoo says it has had to put down a 50-year-old Asian elephant suffering from old age.
Zoo officials told The San Diego Union Tribune (http://bit.ly/2bCCohp ) the male elephant suddenly became weak Tuesday and did not respond to emergency treatment.
The life expectancy for Asian elephants in captivity is about 42 years.
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park obtained the elephant named Ranchipur in 1981 from a private owner.
The elephant was moved from the safari park to the San Diego Zoo to live in its 7.5-acre Elephant Odyssey habitat in 2009.
In January, zookeepers used tree branches decorated with hibiscus and pieces of bananas to craft the number 50 for Ranchipur’s birthday.
The newspaper says he grabbed the bananas and hibiscus, toppling the gift in five minutes.
