His caregivers who knew and loved him were by his side to ensure passed peacefully and comfortably, Zoo Knoxville said.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Zoo Knoxville announced that Tonka, a 46-year-old African elephant, was humanely euthanized on Wednesday.
Tonka was put in hospice care earlier this week when it was determined there were no other options to treat pain and swelling in his front leg. His caregivers who knew and loved him were by his side to ensure he passed peacefully and comfortably, Zoo Knoxville said.
“We are heartbroken and grieving,” Zoo Knoxville Interim President and CEO Drew Rowan said. “Tonka was beloved by our staff and our community and we are grateful for the compassion they have shown us. We were very committed to making sure Tonka left this world with all the dignity and love we could surround him with, and I hope that offers some comfort to everyone he touched.”
Tonka was one of the largest and oldest African elephants in North America. He lived at Zoo Knoxville for 43 years and was known for his easy-going nature and intelligence. He had been training to prepare for a move to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee while a barn was completed for him there, but it was decided that his final days would be spent with the people he knew and trusted in a familiar place.
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