Milwaukee County Zoo MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee County Zoo has made the decision to euthanize one of their African savanna elephant Brittany.
The zoo announced her passing in a press release, saying that due to recently declining health, the staff decided the humane thing to do was to euthanize her at the zoo's Elephant Care Center Friday afternoon, April 10.
She was 45 years old.
The zoo previously shared that Brittany's health has been declining since January.
Brittany
Brittany arrived at the Milwaukee County Zoo in June of 2001 from Greenville Zoo in South Carolina. She was one of the longest-tenured residents at the zoo and survived well past the average life expectancy of an African savanna elephant in human care, which is almost 39 years old.
During her final moments, staff members stayed with Brittany, some of whom have been with her since she arrived 25 years ago, sharing stories and favorite moments. In her passing, they allowed her fellow herd member, Belle, to come and see her - to help Belle process her death.
The Elephant Care Center this weekend will be closed, and a necropsy is scheduled to be completed this weekend.
Brittany
