For Immediate Release: August 2, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Saint Louis Zoo, (314) 781-0900
Billy Brennan, 314/646-4633; Brennan@stlzoo.org
Christy Childs, 314/646-4639; Childs@stlzoo.org
Mike De Pope, 314/646-4703; DePope@stlzoo.org

ELEPHANT CALF BORN AT SAINT LOUIS ZOO ON JULY 6 HAS DIED

The Saint Louis Zoo is saddened to announce that the male Asian elephant calf born on
July 6, 2020, has died. The decision to humanely euthanize the calf was made and he passed
away peacefully this morning, August 2, 2020.
The Zoo’s Elephant Care Team of keepers and veterinarians worked around the clock to
provide the best care for the new calf and his mother, Rani (pronounced “Ronnie”), who was
near her calf at every moment. The calf had developmental impairments that limited his ability to
feed since birth. Despite intensive care efforts and life support measures, including assistance
with feedings and continuous intravenous treatments, the calf did not improve. Over the last 48
hours, the calf’s already compromised health deteriorated rapidly.
"Everyone here is just devastated right now,” said Jeffrey P. Bonner, Ph.D., Dana Brown
President and CEO, Saint Louis Zoo. “Our team of professional elephant care experts did
everything possible to help improve the calf’s health. Unfortunately, in the end, it just wasn’t
enough as his health complications were too severe."
While the calf lived a short life of 27 days, he made quite the impression on the Elephant
Care Team, which had prepared for his arrival for almost three years. The keepers named him Avi
(pronounced AH-vee), which means “the sun and air."
“The animal care team who worked so closely with this calf every day of his short life,
and all those who loved him, are understandably grieving,” said Luis Padilla, DVM, Vice
President of Animal Collections, Saint Louis Zoo. “Avi will be missed, but never forgotten.”
“The community followed Rani’s journey from pregnancy to birth and provided support
and positive thoughts for the calf and the Elephant Care Team when they learned of the calf’s
developmental and health impairments. The outpouring of support that we have received from
the community has been incredible. I know everyone joins us in our sense of loss, and that
helps our team get through these difficult times,” said Dr. Padilla.
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The veterinary team will conduct a full necropsy (animal autopsy). Results of the
necropsy will not be available for several weeks.
Elephant background
An elephant pregnancy lasts about 22 months and a newborn weighs about 250-350
pounds. Rani received regular prenatal health checkups by the Zoo’s elephant care team
throughout her pregnancy.
Avi was Rani’s third baby. Jade was born in 2007 and Kenzi, who died in 2018, was born in
2011. The Zoo’s bull elephant, 27-year-old Raja, is the father. He was the first Asian elephant
ever born at the Zoo in 1992, and this calf was his fifth offspring.
Rani is part of a nine-member, three-generation elephant family that includes Ellie (mother),
Maliha, Jade (daughter), Priya, Donna, Sri, Pearl and Raja at the Zoo’s River’s Edge and
Elephant Woods habitats. Rani and Ellie arrived at the Saint Louis Zoo in 2001 f rom the
Jacksonville Zoo, where Rani was born in 1996.
Species Survival Plan
This elephant breeding was recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Asian
Elephant Species Survival Plan, a national cooperative breeding and management program
responsible for maintaining a genetically healthy population of Asian elephants in North
American zoos.
Asian Elephant Conservation
There are fewer than 35,000 Asian elephants left in the wild, and they are facing extinction
due to poaching for ivory and habitat destruction. Given the shrinking population of Asian
elephants, the Saint Louis Zoo is committed to conserve this endangered species. The Saint
Louis Zoo WildCare Institute Center for Asian Elephant Conservation supports the welfare and
conservation of Asian elephants in Sumatra and other countries in Asia through the International
Elephant Foundation. The Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute Center for Conservation in the
Horn of Africa also supports conservation of African elephants in Kenya through the Northern
Rangelands Trust.
“Elephants in the wild face a growing number of threats, and elephants in zoos provide a
genetic safety net should wild populations continue to decline,” said Katie Pilgram-Kloppe,
Zoological Manager of River’s Edge, Saint Louis Zoo.

About Saint Louis Zoo

Home to over 13,000 animals representing 555 species, the Saint Louis Zoo is recognized
worldwide for its innovative approaches to animal care and management, wildlife conservation,
research, and education. One of the few free zoos in the nation, the Saint Louis Zoo attracts
approximately 3 million visitors annually and is the most-visited attraction in the region.
Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Saint Louis Zoo is part of an
elite group of institutions that meet the highest standards in animal care as well as provide fun,
safe and educational family experiences. The Saint Louis Zoo and the other AZA-accredited
institutions collectively dedicate millions of dollars annually to support scientific research,
conservation and education programs. For more information, visit stlzoo.org.
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