The oldest elephant at the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park has been euthanized after more than a year of declining health.
Park officials say Sunita, a 60-year-old Asian elephant, was euthanized Wednesday. Officials say she had been battling a series of conditions linked to old age.
Park spokeswoman Christina Simmons told The San Diego Union-Tribune that Sunita had been under intense care and a special diet, but she was losing weight rapidly. She says Sunita was undergoing massive organ failure and that led to the difficult decision to euthanize.
Sunita came to the zoo in 1974. Her death leaves the zoo with four Asian elephants and 11 African
A necropsy is planned to determine the cause of death.
