Jewel, a female Asian elephant that brought joy to millions of visitors at the Los Angeles Zoo, has died at 61 after declining health.
The mammal was the oldest Asian elephant at the zoo and had been in its care for 12 years.
Since last Sunday, animal care and veterinary staff noticed that Jewel’s health was failing and, after she spent days in intensive care, the “difficult decision to compassionately euthanize her was made by the animal care and veterinary staff when it was clear her quality of life was not going to improve,” the zoo said.
Jewel and her partner Tina, 57, lived together for 30 years in the custody of a private owner. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) removed the animals in 2009 and, after their recovery and rehabilitation, they arrived at the Los Angeles Zoo in 2010.
Over the past 12 years, “Angelenos have been able to foster…
