In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, an elephant had a mishap at the Milwaukee County Zoo on Friday that required the assistance of a front loader to help her stand back up.
According to a statement, Ruth, the elephant, stumbled around 11 a.m. while maneuvering around a log in her outdoor environment. The fall was attributed to aggressive behavior from another elephant in her group, which caused Ruth to land on her side.
Ruth attempted to get up on her own but struggled to do so as a result of her age.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) notes that the average life expectancy for female African savanna elephants under human care is 39.4 years. Since Ruth is currently 40 years old, she is considered to be in her senior years.
When Ruth couldn’t get up on her own, the zoo activated its protocol for raising a fallen animal, which involved notifying the Milwaukee Fire Department’s Heavy Urban Rescue Team (HURT) and Dawes Rigging and Crane for assistance.
A zoo operator, under the guidance of the elephant care coordinator, utilized a front-loaded vehicle to safely help Ruth get back on her feet.
Video shows the elephant then walking back towards the indoor habitat after regaining her footing.
The Zoo’s animal care team and the HURT team regularly train through drills to prepare for such instances as this.
Ruth was examined by the Zoo’s veterinary team who will continue to monitor her closely.
