Milwaukee Zoo Euthanizes 43-Year-Old Geriatric Elephant Ruth After Fall

Ruth, a 43-year-old African savanna elephant at the Milwaukee County Zoo, was humanely euthanized after a fall left her unable to stand and recover. She had previously fallen earlier in the month following a tussle with another elephant, Belle, but had appeared to be recovering before the second fall on September 20. Despite efforts by zookeepers, veterinarians, and the Milwaukee Fire Department’s Heavy Urban Rescue Team, the decision was made to euthanize Ruth to prevent further suffering. Ruth was considered geriatric, as the median life expectancy for female African savanna elephants in captivity is approximately 39 years. During the euthanasia, zookeepers and staff stayed with her and allowed fellow elephants Brittany and Belle to visit her to help them process the loss. A necropsy will be performed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine to further understand the circumstances surrounding her health and fall, and Ruth’s plasma donation was noted as a final contribution to aid other elephants.