Two months after the death of the elephant Tamy, the last specimen living in the Ecoparque de Mendoza and preparing to travel to a sanctuary, the reasons for the death were confirmed.
In the last hours, they presented the report from the Veterinary Service of the place. Tamy was 55 years old and died on June 24.
The pachyderm died as a result of a “chronic multisystemic process” linked to the wear and tear of old age. No evidence of active infections or contagious diseases was found.
It was revealed what Tamy died from: what does the elephant autopsy report say
The necropsy, carried out immediately with the participation of 12 veterinarians, an external observer, and a photographer, ensured a completely transparent process.
Who was Tamy, the last captive elephant in Argentina. (Photo: Los Andes newspaper).[/caption>
Anatomopathological and laboratory studies revealed that Tamy had multiple progressive organic failures, without any acute cause having caused his death.
The analysis confirmed lesions in various organs of the elephant, highlighting:
- Severe chronic nephropathy: with fibrous replacement of renal tissue, ureter dilation, and 9-centimeter calculi.
- Moderate to severe hepatopathy: with liver congestion and non-smooth liver edges.
- Severe arthropathy: in hip and carpus, compatible with advanced osteoarthritis.
On the other hand, microbiological studies ruled out active infections. Cultures of the renal pelvis and joints were negative, and serologies for brucellosis and leptospirosis did not detect the presence of these diseases.
The autopsy concluded that the cause of death was chronic multiorgan failure, associated with the aging and progressive deterioration of Tamy.
Tamy’s last months at the exZoo de Mendoza
The animal was receiving permanent veterinary assistance for its joint pains and had a special enclosure for training and being taken to the Sanctuary in Brazil.
His case presented greater difficulty due to his age, the problems he had from his circus life, and his physical conditions.
Tamy, the 55-year-old Asian elephant who arrived in Mendoza after being abandoned by a circus that could not take him to Chile, died in the last hours.
In recent years, efforts had been made to improve his welfare and prepare him for transfer to a sanctuary in Brazil. In the next few hours, the necropsy will be performed, and the details of his death will be known.
Tamy’s story
Tamy, the elephant from Ecoparque de Mendoza, has died[/caption>
He had arrived in Mendoza in 1984, after being left by the Hermanas Gasca Circus, which, not having permits to cross the road with the animal, decided to “donate” him and continue their journey.
Upon arrival, and for a few hours, the male Asian elephant was, however, free. During Tamy’s first afternoon at the ex-zoo, he took advantage of a moment of carelessness and escaped.
However, they managed to recapture him, and since then, he remained in the same place. Although he was the father of Guillermina (a female who lived in the same place), the male was separated from his daughter and the mother. They, on the other hand, were never separated.
His behavior, according to specialists, showed signs of chronic stress, a common consequence in elephants deprived of their natural environment.
For a decade, the Biodiversity and Ecoparque Directorate of the Government of Mendoza, along with the Franz Weber Foundation and the Elephant Sanctuary in Brazil, had been working consistently on a conversion plan that included the refurbishment of his space, a constant veterinary care protocol, and a positive training system.
