Zurich firemen use crane to haul old elephant to her feet
Firemen were called to Zurich Zoo on Tuesday afternoon to help a 49-year-old elephant who had been pushed over by her herdmates and couldn’t get up again.
Druk, the oldest of the zoo’s elephants, found herself on the ground after a tussle with other members of the herd, the zoo said in a statement.
Seeing that the elderly elephant didn’t have the energy to stand up by herself, zookeepers called on Zurich city fire service to help.
Using a crane, the recue team was able to lift the animal to her feet and lead her safely into the indoor enclosure, where she was checked over by a vet.
Photo: Robert Zingg/Zurich Zoo
The oldest animal at Zurich Zoo, Druk arrived at the zoo from Bhutan in 1968 when she was just a baby.
She bore no offsprig herself, but has played an important role as matriarch and ‘aunt’ to younger elephants, said the zoo.
Now in her twilight years, it’s not the first time the elephant has needed help to stand up.
Though the zoo hopes Druk will rally, should she should start to show signs of suffering it would consider euthanizing her, it said.
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Druk, the oldest of the zoo’s elephants, found herself on the ground after a tussle with other members of the herd, the zoo said in a statement.
Seeing that the elderly elephant didn’t have the energy to stand up by herself, zookeepers called on Zurich city fire service to help.
Using a crane, the recue team was able to lift the animal to her feet and lead her safely into the indoor enclosure, where she was checked over by a vet.
Photo: Robert Zingg/Zurich Zoo
The oldest animal at Zurich Zoo, Druk arrived at the zoo from Bhutan in 1968 when she was just a baby.
She bore no offsprig herself, but has played an important role as matriarch and ‘aunt’ to younger elephants, said the zoo.
Now in her twilight years, it’s not the first time the elephant has needed help to stand up.
Though the zoo hopes Druk will rally, should she should start to show signs of suffering it would consider euthanizing her, it said.
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