http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory2/3135608

April 15, 2005

Zoo's baby elephant euthanized
By SALATHEIA BRYANT
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
Bella, the Houston Zoo's baby elephant, was put to sleep earlier today after zoo officials learned that screws used to repair her fractured femur had already dislodged.

She was euthanized at 9:30 a.m. today. Bella would have been 8 months old Sunday.

Zoo staff members who had a hand in raising Bella came in to say their tearful farewells. After the calf died her mother, Shanti, and adoptive mother, Methai, were allowed visual and physical contact.

Grief counselors will come to the zoo at 1 p.m. to work with the staff.

Zoo director Rick Barongi said it was a painful decision. They had flown an out-of-state surgeon in to perform a rare surgery to repair the injury.

"Bella is gone. It just wasn't going to work," said Barongi. "It was a bad break. It wasn't an easy break to fix. Everybody agreed that it was asking too much of this calf.

"The vets and specialist said we can't repair this."

Bella was born Aug. 17 after a 22-month gestation period. At her first public debut she played in a kiddie pool, pushed a plastic beach ball around with her trunk and drank her special formula from a liter bottle.

Her birth was celebrated with a public naming contest and she became an instant hit with zoo goers. Bella became a marketing sensation with her likeness being displayed on billboards.

Bella somehow stumbled and fell Tuesday morning while walking in the elephant yard. Surgeons performed a 2 1/2 -hour operation Wednesday and were pleased with the initial results.

However, an X-ray of the repair injury this morning showed a much different story.