Ailing 46-12 months-Previous Elephant Euthanized at Oakland Zoo
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — A 46-year-old African elephant has been euthanized on the Oakland Zoo after struggling arthritis and different age-related issues, the zoo introduced Monday.
Lisa was euthanized on Sunday after years of continual and degenerative well being points that had irreversibly worsened, a zoo statement mentioned.
“We’re heartbroken,” Alex Herman, vice chairman of veterinary providers, mentioned within the assertion. “Her illness progressed to a degree the place we didn’t need her final day to be her worst day, and it was time to do essentially the most humane factor and to let her go.”
Lisa had been within the zoo since 1979.
The zoo mentioned her illnesses included eye ulcers, progressive arthritis that was identified in 2013, foot and nail lesions and lately ventral edema, or swelling of her physique brought on by fluid retention.
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“Her medical care plan included bodily remedy, ache treatment, laser remedies, cryotherapy, and every day foot soaks in Epsom salt, and two cutting-edge stem cell procedures in October 2022 and January of this yr, in partnership with researchers and veterinarians from Michigan State College,” the zoo mentioned.
These concerned infusing stem cells from a wholesome elephant into Lisa’s blood in an effort to ease her arthritic irritation, the zoo mentioned.
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