Tacoma, WA – Over the weekend, the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium bid adieu to a beloved elephant named Suki. The elderly elephant, Suki, was nearly 60 years of age when she was humanely euthanized because of a steady decline in health.
The zoo said Suki was, “surrounded by her keepers and the zoo’s veterinary team, Suki peacefully passed away in the zoo’s elephant habitat. We are all grieving and mourning her loss.”
Suki, who loved watermelon and tongue scratches, was the zoo’s oldest resident and she exceeded the median life expectancy of 48 years for an Asian elephant. The zoo outlined the maladies that contributed to Suki’s decline, “She was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 2019 and had chronic arthritis and uterine tumors, similar to fibroids. Over the past several weeks, she had been showing signs of increasing discomfort and cognitive decline, possibly indicative of a stroke or other neurological disease.”
Suki resided at the zoo since 1996, thriving under the staff’s care following her life as a circus elephant. The zoo said:
Suki was a magnificent ambassador for her species and will be greatly missed.
Rest easy Suki.
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