KANSAS CITY —The staff at the Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium are mourning the loss of African elephant Lois, who lived at the KCZoo for more than four decades, according to a statement from the zoo.
At 47-years old, Lois was considered a geriatric elephant, so her long life is really a testament to the excellent care of the Zoo’s animal care and veterinary health teams.
Lois was beloved by Zoo staff and guests, and most easily identified by her pointed left tusk and red hair on top of her head. Lois was born in 1978 and arrived in Kansas City on September 17, 1982, with another African elephant, Lea, who still resides at the Zoo.
Due to her age, Lois showed signs of degenerative joints and had also ruptured the caudal cruciate ligament (CCL) in one of her hind legs 15 years ago.
This type of injury would have been fatal in her native range, but the specialized care provided at the Zoo gave her many more years of wellbeing.
While treating an elephant is complex, Lois responded well to laser therapy, anti-inflammatories, changes to the substrate in the barn stall, and other accommodations to make her comfortable.
Recently, Lois had been experiencing more challenges with movement, and she did not respond to additional treatment options over the past week.
The difficult decision to euthanize her was made on October 21 due to diminished quality of life. The care specialists that knew her best described Lois as “a strong-willed girl with an unwavering spirit.”
They say she was a fiery redhead with a spunky personality who loved snacks and lots of attention. Her favorite game was showering her unsuspecting caregivers with water, soaking them and all their paperwork and supplies. Those early morning showers will be remembered fondly.
With the loss of Lois, the Zoo is home to eight elephants, four of which are considered geriatric. Lady is the oldest African elephant in North America at the age of 57, and Lea, Megan, and Tattoo, are also all 47 years old. Zoe, 40, Christy, 38, Zuri, 15, and Tamani, a 20-year-old male, round out the herd
.Lois was a beloved ambassador for her endangered species and helped to inspire the Zoo’s conservation efforts to save elephants and other wildlife through programs in Zambia and South Africa. Lois will be dearly missed by all her Zoo family, including staff, volunteers, and guests.