Sudden Elephant Death at St. Louis Zoo Could Be Linked to Unleashed Dog That Agitated Herd

The 27-year-old female collapsed on Friday after a lost dog was seen running in a non-public area near the elephant barn

The Saint Louis Zoo is mourning the death of one of its beloved Asian elephants, Rani.

The 27-year-old female collapsed on Friday after a lost dog was seen running in a non-public area near the elephant barn.

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Zoo officials explained in a news release that Rani was indoors and having dinner when the incident occurred but became agitated after witnessing an elephant's reaction to the dog.

"They saw Rani circle and vocalize, all within a very brief period, before collapsing," the release explains of what zookeepers observed.

While the dog was captured and handed over to a shelter, the Zoo's Elephant Care and Animal Health teams could not revive Rani after performing emergency care.

"We are absolutely devastated. We ask for the community's thoughts and support during this difficult time," said Saint Louis Zoo Director Michael Macek in a statement shared on the release. "Our team of professional animal care experts did everything possible, but we couldn't save Rani."

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According to zoo officials, initial results from a necropsy performed by a pathologist showed Rani had some preexisting changes in her heart, but further testing is still being conducted. Rani arrived at the zoo in July 2001 at age five with her mom, Ellie.

"She loved playing with her sisters Maliha and Priya. While growing up here in St. Louis, she got to learn from her own mom, Ellie, on how to be an amazing mother herself," recalled Katie Pilgram-Kloppe, zoological manager of River's Edge habitat at the Missouri zoo, in a statement shared in the release.

"She had a great relationship with her animal care team and all of the other elephants. When socializing with her family, she made a unique squeaking noise that her daughter Jade also mimics," she added.

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The zoo is home to a three-generation family of Asian elephants, including Rani's two other children, Kenzi and Avi. According to the zoo's website, the Asian elephant currently faces a high risk of extinction due to habitat loss. Estimates suggest there are less than 50,000 Asian elephants left in the wild.

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