Bronx Zoo Euthanizes Elephant Happy at 55

Happy, a 55-year-old Asian elephant at the Bronx Zoo, was euthanized on Tuesday after a decline in health. Zoo officials cited age-related conditions, including kidney or liver dysfunction, as the cause. A necropsy revealed arthritis and inoperable uterine tumors that could not be diagnosed through exams or imaging. Happy had lived at the zoo for nearly 50 years and was known for her role in research demonstrating elephants' self-awareness. In 2005, she successfully recognized herself in a mirror, a rare trait among species. Born in the wild, Happy was brought to the U.S. as a 1-year-old and arrived at the Bronx Zoo in 1977. She was named after a character from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Keepers described her as engaging and treat-motivated, often stashing snacks like watermelon or strawberries in her ear. The zoo's parent institution, the Wildlife Conservation Society, stopped acquiring elephants 20 years ago. With Happy's death, Patty, a 57-year-old elephant, is now the last on exhibit in New York City.