Smithsonian National Zoo euthanizes elderly Asian elephant

Thursday, November 7, 2024 

Kamala, an Asian elephant at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C., United States, was euthanized Friday after an irreversible decline in her physical condition related to osteoarthritis. She was estimated to be around 50 years old.

Her posture predisposed her to osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint and bone condition that the elephant care team helped manage with multi-modal therapies that included monthly injections. In the past several weeks her range of motion was limited, and she increasingly chose to stay in one spot, presumably due to pain. Due to her poor prognosis, the animal care staff made the decision to euthanize her.

She was born in the wild around 1975 in Sri Lanka and was raised at a sanctuary for orphans before being moved to the Calgary Zoo in 1976. She had two calves in Calgary: male Calvin in June 1986 and female Maharani in 1990. When she was transferred to the Smithsonian National Zoo in May 2014 with her calf Maharani and another herd mate.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers Asian elephants endangered. Her lineage has contributed to the birth of at least a dozen elephant calves around the world. According to the zoo, she served as an ambassador for her species.

Her herd mates were not present for the procedure, but were given time to be with her afterward.

• Joshua Barlow. "Kamala, beloved Asian elephant at National Zoo, euthanized after failing health" — WTOP News, November 3, 2024
• "Elderly Female Asian Elephant Dies at Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute" — Smithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, November 2, 2024