Health Status of Elephants

(From Medical Records)

IDA has reviewed the medical records for six of seven elephants at the Oregon Zoo. The seventh elephant, a bull named Tusko, arrived at the zoo in June 2005, after IDA had requested copies of the elephants’ medical records under the Oregon’s public records law.

Hugo

Hugo died at the estimated age of 43. Hugo had a chronically infected nail on left front foot and nail disease on right front foot as well. Records speculate that soft spots on his right foot “may represent effects of stereotypic or excessive time on concrete.” Keepers had trouble treating Hugo’s foot problems due to aggressive behavior, especially during his frequent periods of musth. In Oct. 2002, zoo staff reduced Hugo’s daily food intake in the hope that his musth periods would be shorter. His records note that Hugo’s “feedings will be used to encourage him not to pound on walls and doors and encourage him to load in restraint devices so things like routine bleedings and foot work can be done.”

Records indicate that zoo staff repeatedly performed invasive procedures on Hugo. In 1999, for months they collected semen from Hugo twice a week through a “rectal palpitation” method. In 2000, they performed transrectal ultrasound tests on him just to test out machines the zoo was considering for purchase. Hugo was also placed on an ibuprofen study that required frequent blood collections (through venipuncture) over 48-72 hour periods. For each bleeding, Hugo had to be placed in the elephant restraint device, at least once he was left in it for four hours until the next bleeding.

On January 18, 2003 at 6:15 a.m., Hugo was found lying down on his side. For the next two days, the Zoo used belts, straps and hoists to right Hugo and keep him standing. “Many hours of pulling and repositioning straps were not successful. At times breathing appeared restrained from bands lifting neck up.” By January 20 at 10:00 p.m., Hugo had saliva dripping from mouth and his eyes rolled back in the sockets. Hugo died while the Zoo was “trying to get him to stand.”

A necropsy determined that Hugo’s body had extreme muscle waste and no normal body fat. His digestive tract had ulcers, bruises and hematomas. His right shoulder joint had moderate osteoarthritis. The Zoo blamed extremely high coliform levels in the exhibit pool water for Hugo’s death.

Pet

Pet was born in 1955 and captured from Thailand when she was just two or three. She lived at the Oregon Zoo since 1961. This female elephant suffered for years from severe foot disease—recurrent lesions,, abscesses, ulcers, defects, cracked and undermined nails, etc. that required almost daily intervention from keepers. She also had severe arthritis. Pet was euthanized on Aug. 2, 2006. She was the third elephant to be euthanized by Oregon Zoo in the last ten years due to foot disease.

Pet’s veterinary records are rife with examples of pain and suffering caused by her chronically infected feet. There are voluminous notes about cleaning out infections, lesions and pockets in her feet and constant debridement of lesions– cutting away of dead, necrotic tissue. There are numerous references in the records to pain that Pet is in after what vets term "atraumatic foot trims." They note that she remains in "prolonged lateral recumbency after foot trimmings." At one point (Dec. 21, 2002) vets note that a lesion covering 20 percent of Pet’s caudal sole would not be debrided as "it would leave no protective layer for Pet to stand on." On Dec. 24, 2002, the records indicate that the 10 cm defect on this foot had left the fatty tissue under the skin exposed. Pet’s feet were so damaged that she was frequently made to wear sandals.

A March 9, 2002 note in the records diagnosed her with "severe DJD (Degenerative Joint Disease) in all four limbs" and a June 12, 2002 entry noted "chronic debilitation and multiple joint pain." Radiographs of her feet show complete collapse of intercarpal joint spaces, bone lysis and osteophyte formation. A February 8, 2001 entry notes that the DJD is "probably a result of poor conformation, age and having lived most of her adult life on concrete and asphalt surfaces."

Notes throughout the records indicate that Pet was in significant pain. Keepers observed her using her trunk as a crutch to take weight off her right front foot and she would also lean against the bars of her indoor enclosure also to take weight off her feet. She regularly lifted her right foot every 30 seconds or so, clearly indicating pain. Pet was on high doses of many kinds of pain medications, including Ibuprofen, Legend, and Adequan. Butorphenol, an opiod painkiller was also used frequently, causing Pet, at times, to appear "drugged."

Pet developed pressure sores from lying on her left side on the hard indoor floor. Although veterinarians repeatedly recommended a softer surface for Pet to lie on, it does not appear that the zoo was been able to provide this for Pet. In her medical records, the veterinarian wrote, "Need to get her a soft place to lie down. Need to get curatorial and keeper buy in to make this happen."

Most disturbing, this clearly suffering elephant suffered from numerous wounds to her skin as a result of aggressive ankus use. On ten separate occasions between 2000 and 2005, veterinarians diagnosed ankus wounds (abscesses, punctures penetrating dermis, lacerations, lesions) on her trunk, feet, shoulders, head, back, hip and ear. On Nov. 22, 2003, veterinarians reported "a problem with ankus use on Pet" to curatorial staff. Keepers acknowledged using the ankus more on Pet, in chronic pain from severe DJD and foot disease, to "maintain her activity level so she just doesn’t stand around." The veterinary records indicate that it would be nice to accomplish this "in a manner which causes less trauma to her skin." A Dec. 21, 2003 entry indicates that "Pet may have sustained numerous new ankus contact injuries today as keepers communicated poorly about commands given and Pet was reprimanded in the process."

In 2000, the Oregon Zoo was charged by USDA for violating the Animal Welfare Act in the abuse of Rose-Tu with an ankus, but these serious charges do not appear to have had an impact on Portland keepers, as Pet’s records show ankus abuse continuing.

Despite all of Pet’s problems, on July 6, 1999, she was chained for a reproductive exam. Vets concluded that "her reproductive tract would probably be healthy enough to carry a pregnancy, unfortunately her feet are not."

Also, in Dec 2002, the zoo decided to put the debilitated Pet in with Rama, a young bull, to reduce his "stereotypical swaying, which is causing him foot wear problems." Vets speculate that the pairing might make Pet move more too but worry that "Rama may be too rough with old Pet." Later entries indicate that Rama had pushed Pet around, opening an abscess on her back that had formed due to an ankus wound.

At the end of her life, Pet was moving very slowly, shuffling her feet, not bending either carpus, and bracing herself with her trunk. She had difficulty walking on the sand exterior, and would not move for long periods of time when outside. About two weeks before she was euthanized, morning keepers found Pet "standing with her front limbs in a depression that she had dug out by throwing sand on her back. Apparently she had stood in the same place without moving for a long time and had excavated a depression around her front feet."

In recommending euthanasia, the veterinarian wrote, "Pet appears miserable and chronically in pain."

The treatment of Pet in these final months is shocking. This crippled elephant was still being forced to go through her training routines, and in Nov. 2005, she sustained the last of many ankus injuries, a wound under her trunk that "corresponds with probable ankus tip poke wound (prompting trunk lifting) and keepers believe ankus injury is the cause."

On May 4, 2006, the extremely debilitated, 51-year old Pet was subjected to another transrectal ultrasound/reproductive exam - just 3 months before she would be euthanized. They concluded, "No reproductive abnormalities noted, although will not be bred due to age and severe DJD."

In June 2006, Pet was again put in with Packy, who had been rough with her on previous occasions. Packy "traumatized her tail head" during this encounter.

On August 2, 2006, Pet was euthanized. Her last act was to obey her keepers command to go into the "half" position (on elbows resting rear on left side of her rump/thigh) so that they could inject the drugs that would eventually end her suffering.

Chendrawasi (Chendra)

This 13-year-old female was orphaned and hand reared in Malaysia. She is on loan from the Malaysian government. Re-occurring medical problems include chronic bilateral middle ear disease (Otitis – inflammation of middle ear, infection, discharge, etc.), anemia, and skin allergies. She is permanently blind in her left eye from an injury received in Malaysia.

Chendra’s records show a strong case for how quickly elephants' feet become damaged once in captivity as there are records included of her foot condition prior to coming from Malaysia. Within just two months she begins to have chronic foot problems. Also, she was radiographed with no defects upon coming to the Zoo and within a year developed problems with fractured toes probably as a result of overgrown nails. Stereotypical behavior started right as she was brought off the truck from her journey. A November 21, 1999 entry states, “Strong tendency toward stereotypical behaviors. Her pacing is special concern given the hard flooring she is now on for the first time. Main immediate concern is foot ulceration due to excessive wear.” Vets recommended extra bedding in her stalls to ease the transition for her feet from “forest and river ground to the hard flooring of captivity.”

On April 19, 2003 vets note a “classical nail abscess” which is “pretty alarming in an animal this young and small.”

Chendra also shows signs of ankus wounds. October 22, 2002 entry records “mild skin trauma related to ankus use.” On that date, a visitor had submitted a complaint about ankus use and reported seeing Chendra shy away from the ankus. On May 2003 skin nicks were found all over the left front limb metacarpal area “as though she were heavily cured with an ankus on this limb.” Keepers “may cure her more frequently and aggressively on this side because it’s her blind side.” Other puncture wounds and abscesses also noted that are possibly ankus related.

Chendra shows some behavioral problems. A note in the records relates to swaying while chained for bath. Chendra tears up rubber matting, possibly ingesting pieces. She has been injured numerous times by aggression from Shine, and was thought to be ingesting sand due to the fact that Shine was taking hay away from Chendra.

Rose-Tu (Rose or Rosey)

This 12-year-old female was born at the Oregon Zoo and is the survivor of a set of twins. She was born first but her twin did not survive. Her mother Me-Tu and her father Hugo are both dead. She was weaned at 1.5 years of age. She has kicked her handler when having her rear leg chained and is characterized as flighty and stubborn and extremely dependant on the herd.

On April 17, 2000, six-year-old Rose was abused by a keeper with an ankus. An exam on April 19 found multiple puncture wounds on her head, behind her ears, on both shoulders and on both rear limbs. There were also two puncture wounds in the soft skin between the anus and the base of the tail. Rose also had a 15-inch long laceration over the top left gluteal area. She became agitated during the exam, especially when her tail area was examined, and further lesions could not be identified.

Rose’s abuse at her keepers’ hands was so severe as to warrant the USDA to file charges against the Oregon Zoo for Animal Welfare Act violations, a step rarely taken against a zoological institution. Three months later, vets noted “superficial scars around the perineal area from ankus abuse.”

Although she is a young elephant, Rose has foot problems, cracked and overgrown nails, sole fissures and bone fractures in the P2 and P3 digits of her back feet. Records attribute to “possible substrate problem” or “repetitive stress injury.”

Rose has also been diagnosed as overweight.

Sung-Surin (Shine)

This 24-year-old female was born at the Oregon Zoo. She has chronic foot problems. The records start in 1996, when she is just 13.5 years old. At that time she had an infected nail lesion on her right front foot that is chronic through end of records (2005). This nail lesion/abscess has frequent “blowouts.” By July 2004 the lesion had extended to the space between nails 4 and 5. She also had fractured and abnormal toes.

Foot problems are mentioned in nearly every entry in her records from 1996-2005. Several mentions of “copious bleeding” after debriding foot ulcer. In November 1999, a power sander was used to “rough up” the bottom of her sole. Foot condition steadily declines over this period. In February 2004, a change in the angulation of her right limb is noted and vets believe it is beginning of degenerative joint disease (DJD). Also note that it appears that she is dragging her foot when she walks.

Shine is diagnosed as obese.

Shine also has numerous ankus wounds on triceps area (August 26, 2000), trunk (December 27, 2000), trunk again (April 6, 2002), shoulder and foot (April 6, 2002).

Packy

This 44-year-old male was the first calf born at the Oregon Zoo to Belle and Thonglow.

Packy has chronic problems with cracked nails, lesions, abscess on right front foot. He also has a recurring abscess/lesion on the left side of head from lying on concrete floor, and a hygroma on the right side of his head. Diagnosed as emaciated January 31, 2003. Foot injury from kicking at door (“which he’s apt to do”). Possible ankus wound on right front limb January 24, 2001.

Packy has sired a number of calves. He has also been the object of repeated attempts to extract sperm (through rectal palpitation and use of artificial vaginas) for artificial insemination. He has also been placed on Dr. Ursula Bechert’s Ibuprofen and Phenylbutazone dosage studies which required repeated restraint and bleedings.

Rama

Rama is a 23-year-old male and was born at the Oregon Zoo to Rosy and Packy. His reoccurring medical problems include thin pads on both front feet with chronic ulcers on the pad under Nail #2 of the left foot which abscesses at least once a year. He is treated regularly with Ibuprofen and Cosequin. His left front leg is fused at the elbow, a result of falling into the old moat. Rama has also been intermittently lame with hyper extended looking elbow joint of the right front leg, and exhibits strange gaits to compensate for the stiff joints. Rama exhibits stereotypic rocking behavior that seems to increase each time he is in musth and often exacerbates his foot problems. Semen has been collected from rectal palpation, but Rama has also been trained to an artificial vagina. He has not been put with a cow to breed yet.