It was an emotional weekend for staff at the Milwaukee County Zoo as African savanna elephant Ruth, a beloved fixture there for nearly two decades, was euthanized after another fall on Saturday morning.
Ruth, who at 43 years old was considered a geriatric elephant, arrived at the zoo in December 2006 and was described by her care team as “feisty and sassy” and very independent. It wasn’t uncommon, they said, to see her alone in her own space in the outdoor habitat.
Zookeepers found her down and unable to get up on her own and immediately began implementing zoo protocols for such a situation, according to an announcement by zoo officials. The zoo’s veterinary staff, in consultation with the elephant care staff, the director of animal health and management and the zoo’s director, decided to euthanize Ruth.
Saturday’s fall was Ruth’s second in three weeks. On Sept. 2, she lost her footing on a log during what zoo officials called aggressive behavior from a herd mate in a tussle over food. After Ruth was unable to get up on her own, a front-load vehicle was brought in to provide leverage for her to stand and walk into the indoor habitat.
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After that fall, the zoo’s veterinary team performed an exam to assess Ruth’s well-being. She seemed to be on the mend and was walking around in the zoo’s elephant enclosure the following day. Zoo officials noted at the time that aggression between elephants over food is not unusual.
It was also noted that although Ruth lost her footing on a log in the habitat, logs will continue to be a staple of the outdoor yard because they are essential for the elephants’ dental health while also creating natural enrichment and a more complex habitat to stimulate the animals.
Ruth was the matriarch of an elephant herd that also includes elephants Belle, who came to the zoo in 2019, and Brittany, who arrived in 2001. Like Ruth, Belle and Brittany are in their 40s and considered geriatric. The median life expectancy for a female African savanna elephant in human care is 39.4 years, according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
An emotional scene at the end
On Saturday, Ruth was first anesthetized, and zookeepers stayed with her throughout the process. She showed no signs of discomfort, according to zoo officials.
The vet staff collected plasma from Ruth as part of a plasma collection program – a final gift from Ruth to help another elephant, zoo officials said. Ruth was a donor in the system and was a leader in plasma collection, according to her care team.
Zoo officials described an emotional scene during Ruth’s last moments. She was surrounded by a large group of zookeepers and animal care staff, who also supported each other throughout the process, giving comfort and sharing stories. Zookeepers were also given time alone with Ruth to say goodbye, according to a release.
The zoo also offered Brittany and Belle the opportunity to enter the stall with Ruth to give them space to see and smell Ruth — normal behavior for socially bonded animals when an animal dies. Each elephant was given time on their own to see Ruth, which provided them their own space to process her death, according to zoo officials.
A necropsy, performed by the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, was scheduled to be completed over the weekend. The zoo is expected to provide additional information pending results, which can take several weeks.
