OAKLAND, Calif. - A 50-year-old matriarch of the Oakland Zoo’s African elephant herd died suddenly long after surpassing the 17-year median lifespan for such elephants in captivity,. Zoo officials announced the death Wednesday, saying they found M’Dunda collapsed in the elephant habitat, and she died Tuesday before vets could help her. They said the elephant showed no signs of medical issues despite her advanced age. M’Dunda was the third oldest African elephant in an Association of Zoos and Aquariums zoo. She came to the Oakland Zoo in 1993 from the San Diego Zoo and quickly built a reputation as gentle and kind.

Source: thestar December 04, 2019 19:07 UTC