Oldest African elephant at Maryland Zoo euthanized after fall

Anna, one of the African elephants at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, has died. She’s shown here taking part in the Annual Giant Pumpkin smash event. staff file

Anna, the 49-year-old “cornerstone” of the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore’s elephant herd, was euthanized Tuesday after being injured in a fall. The zoo said in a news release that euthanasia was determined to be in the best interest of its oldest African elephant, who first arrived in Baltimore in 1983, due to Anna’s age and “multiple known medical issues” that she suffered from. Anna had lived “well beyond” the median life expectancy of 38.1 years for her species, benefitting from a “comprehensive care plan” including physical therapy, a specialized diet, anti-inflammatory medications and enrichment as she aged, the zoo said.

“Her resilient disposition allowed the elephant and veterinary teams to jointly devise a care plan for her that allowed her to age gracefully and thrive,” the zoo said, noting Anna “had a close relationship with her keepers and excelled at training.”

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