Baby elephant Scotty passes away after a brief illness

Recently diagnosed with colic after experiencing severe gastrointestinal and digestive issues, 3-year-old baby elephant Scotty has passed away.

Scotty was making steady progress while under close 24-hour observation and care, but this morning he took a turn for the worse. Colic in elephants is not uncommon and it can turn very serious, very quickly, which was the case with Scotty.

When all hope of recovery was gone, the Zoo’s staff then made the very difficult decision to humanely euthanize him around 8:30 p.m.

“This is a very sad day for us. We are heartbroken,” Louisville Zoo Director John Walczak said. “We did everything we could to see Scotty though this. We had the best animal care and medical staff available, but we just weren’t able to save him. Scotty was a special member of our family who had a tremendous impact on our staff, volunteers, visitors and the community. We are deeply mourning his loss.”

A recent ultrasound showed displacement and gas distention in Scotty’s large bowel. The cause is still unknown. While under 24-hour care from his keepers, the Louisville Zoo’s Veterinary team was also checking on Scotty throughout each day and administering medication. In addition, they were consulting with the leading elephant veterinary experts in the nation as well as a local equine expert. The Zoo’s Veterinary team worked to alleviate his abdominal discomfort through diet, exercise, fluid therapy and medication, but unfortunately Scotty’s condition deteriorated quickly.

“Scotty will always remain in our hearts,” Louisville Zoo Director John Walczak said. “He was a special elephant, and we will greatly miss him.”

Information about how to remember Scotty will be released soon.

A necropsy will be performed and results will be released at a later date.

***

Scotty was born March 18, 2007, at the Louisville Zoo to mom Mikki. He was the first elephant born in Kentucky and the Zoo’s 40-year history.