Zoo Staff, Visitors Mourn Lost Elephant
Posted June 15, 2009 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Monday marked the end of a sombre weekend at the Toronto Zoo, as many continued to cope with the loss of Tessa, a 39-year-old African elephant that died Saturday after it was shoved by another elephant during feeding.
Tessa was one of the first elephants to live in the zoo when it opened its doors in 1974.
“It’s like losing a personal friend,” admitted zoo supervisor Eric Cole. “You work with these animals every day, you get to really know them well.”
When Tessa first landed on her side, crews worked frantically to right the gentle giant, even employing a crane to help get her back on her feet. But she couldn’t support herself, and eventually stopped breathing.
