Maybelle The Elephant Dies At SF Zoo

AP

Apr 22nd, 2004

A 43-year-old female elephant died Thursday morning at the San Francisco Zoo.
Maybelle, the 10,000-pound African elephant, was conscious when zoo staff found her lying in her outdoor enclosure, but after administering pain medication, she passed away, zoo officials said.

Before arriving to the San Francisco Zoo in 1962, she was one of the youthful elephant stars in the John Wayne film "Hatari." Zoo records show she was born in Africa in May, 1960.

Officials hope that a necropsy, performed Thursday, will determine the exact cause of death.

Maybelle's failing health had been compromised by orthopedic problems, a statement released by the zoo said.

In March, the Zoo had to euthanize Calle, a 37-year-old female Asian elephant. Calle became the focus of a clash between animal activists and zoo officials.

Activists had been fighting to have Calle moved to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee days before she was euthanized. But zoo officials said the elephant's problems -- degenerative joint disease, tuberculosis and a fall taken after another elephant pushed her -- made her too sick to be moved.