NEWS
For Immediate Release |
CONTACT:
Carol Buckley:
931-796-6500 x 26
|
After Only 2 Months
and 23 Days of Freedom
Lota Has Died
Hohenwald, Tenn.-- (February 14)
After
a six-year effort to help Lota, an
aged Asian elephant diagnosed with
tuberculosis, Lota was released to
The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.
She died less than three months later.
On November 17, 2004, after months
of delays, Lota and Misty, one of her
herd members who had also tested positive
for tuberculosis, were released to
the Sanctuary. Lota was emaciated,
suffering for the advance stages of
tuberculosis. Experts agreed her move
to the Sanctuary was not in an effort
to save her life but to give her hospice
care until she died.
Surprisingly, her health seemed to
rally; she enjoyed napping in the sun
on the soft grass, and her appetite
was improving. The freedom offered
her at The Elephant Sanctuary seemed
to agree with her, until two weeks
ago when she struggled to get up from
her afternoon nap. In the days following
this episode in which her caregivers
actually helped to boost her up, Lota’s
breathing became labored, and her appetite
began to decrease until she stopped
eating completely. Lota’s longtime
companion Misty became increasing attentive
to Lota, refusing to leave her side.
Attended by vets from across the US,
Lota’s rapidly deteriorating
health was of grave concern. She received
oxygen and painkillers and was monitored
around the clock. The goal was to keep
her comfortable. In the early morning
hours of February 9, after receiving
oxygen for the final time, Lota lay
down and died with Misty at her side.
Initial necropsy findings support the
diagnoses that Lota died of an advanced
case of tuberculosis; a final report
will be available in a few weeks.
The Elephant Sanctuary is a non-profit
organization, licensed by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture and the Tennessee
Wildlife Resources Agency. It is supported
by public donations. For more information
about the plight of captive elephants
and the placement of the Hawthorn elephants
please call
(931) 791-6500 x 26 or visit the website
at www.elephants.com.
