Woodland Park Zoo Elephant Dies Suddenly

Hansa, Elephant At Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo, Dies After Displaying Colic-Like Symptoms


SEATTLE, Jun. 8, 2007
(AP)


(AP) A young Asian elephant that had delighted visitors at the Woodland Park Zoo since her birth died Friday, about a week after she began showing signs of abdominal pain, zoo officials said.

Six-year-old Hansa had been given fluids and antibiotics and was being monitored after showing a decreased appetite and activity. Zoo officials were conducting a necropsy.

"She was a little princess, and she had a big old Buddha belly," Dr. Kelly Helmick, director of animal health, said at a news conference.

Hansa, whose name means "supreme happiness" in Thai, was the first elephant born at the century-old Woodland Park Zoo.

Asian elephants, which are endangered, typically live about 45 years, according to the zoo's Web site. Animal rights groups said Hansa's death is further evidence that the zoo is too small for elephants.

The zoo's remaining herd consists of Hansa's mother, Chai, 28; Bamboo, a 40-year-old Asian elephant; and Watoto, a 38-year-old African elephant.



Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

That's sad. I saw something about this on the news last night with all these little kids crying. I wasn't sure what it was all about (hadn't heard the news story before this).

When was Hansa born? A few weeks ago - months? Wonder if the vets and keepers were aggressive enough with their treatment. Sounds like they're still not sure what was ailing her.

It's getting to the point we can't afford to lose these animals. Especially sad after hearing of that panda being mauled in the wild by other pandas. :(

That's sad. I saw something about this on the news last night with all these little kids crying. I wasn't sure what it was all about (hadn't heard the news story before this).

When was Hansa born? A few weeks ago - months? Wonder if the vets and keepers were aggressive enough with their treatment. Sounds like they're still not sure what was ailing her.

It's getting to the point we can't afford to lose these animals. Especially sad after hearing of that panda being mauled in the wild by other pandas. :(Hansa was in fact born in 2000, so she was not exactly a "baby" when she died, but her birth was a big event at the zoo, so she became known as the "baby elephant" for as long as she lived.

It's really strange and sad, zoos were supposed to help all these animals who are being endangered, yet they keep dying. I'm not sure if a zoo is they best place for a lot of them. Too many die in captivity. That's really sad about the baby panda, there are so few left in the world. :(

That is so very sad... :( Baby elephants are so adorable...

So sad RIP baby elephant Hansa :rip:

My son and I saw Hansa when they first opened the viewing to the public on a field trip with his class.
It is interesting about elephants, they show grieving behavior. Very intelligent creatures. I wonder if they find this or will share it with the public.
It is truly a sad loss.