TACOMA, Wash. — A beloved resident at Point Defiance Zoo passed away this weekend. Asian elephant Suki was euthanized on Saturday after a decline in her health over the past few weeks, according to the zoo.
Suki called Point Defiance home for nearly three decades and was almost 60 years old. She was a favorite stop for many a visitor. Suki was the last elephant in captivity in the entire state of Washington.
Formerly a circus elephant, Suki came to the Point Defiance Zoo in 1996. She benefitted from a new concept called protected contact, where elephants and their keepers never share the same space. Suki required state-of-the-art facilities and staff who were skilled in caring for elephants with demonstrated anti-social behavior.
Head veterinarian Karen Wolf described Suki as a "people elephant" not an "elephant's elephant." For a time, she shared her enclosure with fellow Asian elephant Hanako, but the two had to be separated because Suki preferred the company of people to her own species.
"Suki was the queen of the elephant barn and preferred to be showered with attention from her keepers and guests," Wolf said.
“Suki was a very smart elephant with a big personality,” said Elephant Manager Shannon Smith who cared for Suki for over two decades. “She loved eating watermelon and banana leaves, splashing in her pools, and getting her tongue gently scratched. She was an extraordinary animal and will be deeply missed by everyone who knew her.”
Suki's care team worked to keep her body and mind healthy as she aged, with activities like daily exercise and regular enrichment. Suki was able to participate in her own healthcare by presenting her feet, trunk, mouth and ears to her keepers so they could identify and swiftly address any health issues.
Wolf remembered that Suki was particularly fond of Brock's candy pumpkins, and was especially cooperative when she anticipated receiving some in exchange for undergoing a check-up.
"She was a very engaging animal," Wolf said.
Suki lived far longer than a typical Asian elephant's lifespan in captivity, which is 48 years. She had multiple chronic health issues, including tuberculosis, arthritis and uterine tumors.
Over the past few weeks, zookeepers began to notice signs of "increasing discomfort and cognitive decline" in the elephant, which indicated a potential stroke or other neurological disease. On Saturday, the zoo veterinary and animal care teams made the difficult decision to euthanize Suki.
“With Suki’s advanced age, chronic medical conditions, and significant decline in health, humane euthanasia was the only compassionate course of action,” Wolf said.
Suki taught thousands of zoo visitors to care about elephant conservation, according to Point Defiance. Wolf said she has seen an outpouring of grief and support from the community, which has comforted staff in their time of loss.
"She was a very special animal to all of us," Wolf said. "It wasn't just the zookeepers, or veterinarians or people who worked with her, it was the community as a whole who really learned a lot from Suki, and really enjoyed watching her and learning about the endangered status of elephants in the wild. She awakened a connection in people's hearts."
Suki will be Point Defiance Zoo's last elephant. What's next?
Wolf said the Point Defiance Zoo has committed to not accepting any more elephants into captivity. In the aftermath of Suki's death, staff will take the time to grieve before deciding what will happen with the elephant enclosure that has been a highlight for many zoogoers for decades.
There are tentative plans for a number of "dynamic, interactive exhibits," Wolf said, but nothing has been set in stone.
