ST. LOUIS ZOO ELEPHANT DIES AFTER BEING SPOOKED BY DOG LOOSE IN EXHIBIT

Zoo elephant collapses, dies after reacting to agitated herd

Rani, a 27-year-old Asian elephant at the St. Louis Zoo, collapsed and died after a loose dog was seen running in a non-public area near the elephant barn. While the dog was quickly captured and handed over to a shelter, the disturbance agitated the elephant herd.
Zookeepers saw Rani become troubled after witnessing other elephants' reaction to the dog, and observed her circle, vocalize, and eventually collapse within a short period. Despite their best efforts, the Zoo's Elephant Care and Animal Health teams were unable to revive Rani.
The elephant care teams noted that Rani was agitated by the vocalizations from the herd, not the direct sight of the dog, as she was indoors and eating when the dog entered the non-public area.
Initial results from a necropsy performed on Rani revealed some pre-existing changes in her heart. However, further testing is still being conducted to determine if these changes contributed to her sudden death.
Rani, remembered fondly for her unique squeaking noise while socializing, was the mother of another elephant at the zoo, Jade. She was part of the St. Louis Zoo since July 2001 and was part of an Asian elephant family group which, as a species, are endangered with less than 50,000 left in the wild.