A final report on the death of an elephant at the Sedgwick County Zoo has been released. Cinda died in November after living nearly all of her life at the zoo.
KMUW’s Deborah Shaar has the story.
The veterinary staff at the zoo says Cinda likely died of a chronic age-related heart disease.
The report says tissue samples were analyzed and it appears that Cinda may have experienced an irregular heart beat and that led to her sudden death. Cinda was 43 at the time.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums says the lifespan of African elephants like Cinda is 41 years, but some females can live up to 65 years.
Cinda and another elephant were acquired from South Africa in 1972 and were among the first animals at the zoo when it opened.
Cinda’s body is being used for research, and her skeleton was given to a museum in Oklahoma City. The Sedgwick County Zoo will not be adding any elephants until a new elephant exhibit is opened in 2016.
