A male elephant of the Hanoi Zoo, which is popular among Vietnamese children, fell down and died on June 9.

A healthy K'rong.

K'rong was very thin before he died.

The elephant, named K’rong, collapsed at 5.30am. The zoo staff broke the fence and lifted the animal up by a crane. They also injected medicine into the elephant but it died three hours later.

K’rong was examined by operation. It will be sent to the Vietnam Nature Museum for stuffing and display.

The zoo’s deputy director, Ms. Nguyen Cuc Phuong, said the elephant still ate and drank water normally for the last few days, but sometimes it suffered from painful attacks. Workers gave it some relievers.

“There was a 20x25cm tumor on the left hip of K’rong. We found it in April but she did not know what it was. We gave it relievers and treated it once by antibiotics,” said Phuong.

The elephant body was covered by canvas.

In late May, the Hanoi Zoo sent a report to relevant agencies about the status of K’rong. According to the zoo, this elephant showed signs of tiredness: its trunk dangled and its body temperature increased. 

The zoo tested the animal’s blood but all bio-chemical indicators were normal. There was only one indicator which was high but doctors could not define the disease.

The zoo received K’rong from the Vietnam Circuit Association in 1990. It was nearly 30 years old while the average lifespan of elephants is 70-80.

K’rong is the ‘star’ of Hanoi Zoo. After he died, there is only one elephant named Thai in the zoo. 

Previously, the local media reported about the poor situation of these elephants, which looked like racks of bones.

The remaining elephant named Thai, which is also very thin

Source: VNN