Topeka Zoo negligent in death of Shannon the elephant, animal welfare group alleges

An animal welfare organization says the Topeka Zoo staff was negligent for not monitoring a 35-year-old elephant who was down on the ground for nearly 10 hours on each of two days before she died.

Shannon, a 5,500-pound African elephant, died at the zoo Dec. 11. It was the second day in a row the animal had been found lying on her side.

“It is inexcusable that the Topeka Zoo staff apparently went home that night without leaving at least one person to monitor Shannon from the remote video feed,” the group, In Defense of Animals, said Tuesday. “It should be patently obvious that a sick elephant, especially one who had been downed earlier that same day, must be watched vigilantly around the clock.”

“Not bothering to check Shannon’s video feed for over nine hours, the night after an emergency ordeal, is nothing short of gross neglect and unacceptably inadequate care,” the organization said.

Topeka Zoo director Brendan Wiley did not return a phone call seeking comment. But he told The Topeka Capital-Journal shortly after Shannon died that zoo staff tried not to be too intrusive in checking on the elephant because she would sense something different and become stressed.

Lying down in itself is stressful for elephants and can be fatal because of their body mass, Wiley said. On both days the elephant was found down, Topeka firefighters used a tripod device to raise her back to her feet.

The animal welfare organization called for the Topeka Zoo to send its remaining three elephants to a certified elephant sanctuary, “the only type of facility that can truly meet their needs.”

The zoo’s other elephants are 59-year-old Cora, 58-year-old Sunda and 48-year-old Tembo.

In Defense of Animals, which has about 60,000 members, also called on the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to review the Topeka Zoo’s accreditation.

The zoo lost its accreditation in 2001 but regained it in 2003. Its accreditation was extended this year through 2022. Accreditation allows zoos to lend and borrow animals and participate in breeding programs with other accredited zoos.

This story was originally published December 19, 2017 at 1:57 PM with the headline "Topeka Zoo negligent in death of Shannon the elephant, animal welfare group alleges."