Necropsy reveals elephant that died at Seattle zoo suffered from arthritis

SEATTLE, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- The Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle released findings Tuesday in the necropsy of Watoto, an African elephant that died in August, concluding that age-related arthritis prevented the animal from standing up again.

Zoo officials were forced to euthanize the 45-year-old female elephant on Aug. 22 when she was found lying down, unable to get back on her feet. The zoo says that Watoto didn't suffer from heart disease or infections, and rather lacked the ability to rise because of age-related arthritis in the leg joints.

Darin Collins, director of animal health at the zoo, said that Watoto either fell or lay down on her own. In that position, the weight of the animal's body then restricted breathing and blood flow to organs. Zookeepers tried to lift Watoto back up with straps and heavy machinery, but were unsuccessful.

Watoto's death brought renewed attention to the question of elephant captivity.

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray released a statement expressing condolences to the staff of the Woodland Park Zoo, saying that it was a "difficult moment" for them.

"At the same time," he added, "I do believe that today's news should reopen a dialogue in this city about the proper habitat for elephants."

Studies have shown that wild elephants outlive their captive counterparts by almost twice as much.

The Seattle Times reports that Watoto was taken from the African wild when she was 2-years-old and transported to Seattle. Her name is Swahili for "children."