Mona (elephant)
Encyclopedia
Mona was a 7,800 pound Asian elephant
(Elephas maximus) on exhibit at the Birmingham Zoo
in Birmingham, Alabama
(USA). Mona's age was contested. According to zoo officials, she was born in the wild around 1947. An entry in a stud book maintained by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
gives an approximate birth year of 1951.
She was housed in Miami, Florida
for about two years before debuting in Birmingham on July 4, 1955, the year the Zoo reopened at its present location in Lane Park. She was estimated to be 55 or 56 at the time of her death. The average life span of female Asian elephants, in the wild, is currently estimated to be about 60 years.In captivity it is estimated to be 43. . Some individuals outside of the United States have lived in excess of 70 years in captivity.
During her tenure at the zoo, Mona inhabited a 1000 square feet (92.9 m²) pen with access to two concrete-floored stalls in the zoo's pachyderm building. The effect of concrete floors on captive elephants has been shown to be detrimental, and Mona's feet were badly damaged by the so-called "Zoo-Genic Elephant Foot Disease". Her outdoor enclosure was dirt-floored, but the surface had been packed hard by her continual pacing.
Enrichment activities enjoyed by Mona included painting and playing music. Her normal routines were highlighted by special treats of marshmallow Peeps
, Altoids
and peanut
s used as rewards in training. She was also given a large watermelon
cake and several toys each year on July 7, which was observed as her birthday and celebrated with a party for zoo visitors.
On January 31, 2005 Mona's companion of 48 years, Susie, died at the zoo at age 53. Since then Mona was the zoo's sole elephant. The Elephant Sanctuary
offered to relocate and house Mona at their 2700 acres (11 km²) facility near Hohenwald, Tennessee
without charge. The "Alabama Wildlife Advocates" actively lobbied for this move, which was rejected by Zoo officials. The group created an online petition and demonstrated outside the zoo during her annual birthday celebration.
Zoo director Bill Foster argued that the stress caused by travel and resettlement would not be healthy for Mona, and that she should not, at her age, have been subjected to the behavior and pecking order of an unfamiliar herd. He indicated that the zoo planned to improve her habitat and was considering adding a companion to her exhibit.
On June 18, 2007 zoo staff found Mona unable to stand on her own and assisted her with slings. It was surmised that one of her legs had become numb from her lying on it. She was placed on 24-hour watch and appeared to be in good health and spirits in subsequent evaluations. Nevertheless, two days later she indicated that she was unwilling to get to her feet, even with assistance. Zoo veterinarian Marie Rush consulted with other staffers and the decision was made to euthanize. She was pronounced dead at 10:30 AM on June 21, 2007, with a necropsy set to begin the same afternoon.
Asian Elephant
The Asian or Asiatic elephant is the only living species of the genus Elephas and distributed in Southeast Asia from India in the west to Borneo in the east. Three subspecies are recognized — Elephas maximus maximus from Sri Lanka, the Indian elephant or E. m. indicus from mainland Asia, and E. m....
(Elephas maximus) on exhibit at the Birmingham Zoo
Birmingham Zoo
The Birmingham Zoo is a zoological park that opened in 1955 in Birmingham, Alabama . The zoo is home to almost 800 animals representing over 200 species, including many endangered species from six continents....
in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
(USA). Mona's age was contested. According to zoo officials, she was born in the wild around 1947. An entry in a stud book maintained by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums was founded in 1924 and is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and public aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation.The AZA headquarters is located in Silver...
gives an approximate birth year of 1951.
She was housed in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
for about two years before debuting in Birmingham on July 4, 1955, the year the Zoo reopened at its present location in Lane Park. She was estimated to be 55 or 56 at the time of her death. The average life span of female Asian elephants, in the wild, is currently estimated to be about 60 years.In captivity it is estimated to be 43. . Some individuals outside of the United States have lived in excess of 70 years in captivity.
During her tenure at the zoo, Mona inhabited a 1000 square feet (92.9 m²) pen with access to two concrete-floored stalls in the zoo's pachyderm building. The effect of concrete floors on captive elephants has been shown to be detrimental, and Mona's feet were badly damaged by the so-called "Zoo-Genic Elephant Foot Disease". Her outdoor enclosure was dirt-floored, but the surface had been packed hard by her continual pacing.
Enrichment activities enjoyed by Mona included painting and playing music. Her normal routines were highlighted by special treats of marshmallow Peeps
Peeps
Peeps are marshmallow candies, sold in the United States and Canada, that are shaped into chicks, bunnies, and other animals. There are also different shapes used for various holidays. Peeps are used primarily to fill Easter baskets, though recent ad campaigns tout the candy as "Peeps - Always in...
, Altoids
Altoids
-Flavors and varieties:-Mints:Altoids mints are available in eight flavors: peppermint, wintergreen, spearmint, cinnamon, ginger, liquorice, crème de menthe and cool honey. "Sugar-Free Smalls", tiny square mints sweetened with sorbitol and sucralose, are also available in peppermint, wintergreen,...
and peanut
Peanut
The peanut, or groundnut , is a species in the legume or "bean" family , so it is not a nut. The peanut was probably first cultivated in the valleys of Peru. It is an annual herbaceous plant growing tall...
s used as rewards in training. She was also given a large watermelon
Watermelon
Watermelon is a vine-like flowering plant originally from southern Africa. Its fruit, which is also called watermelon, is a special kind referred to by botanists as a pepo, a berry which has a thick rind and fleshy center...
cake and several toys each year on July 7, which was observed as her birthday and celebrated with a party for zoo visitors.
On January 31, 2005 Mona's companion of 48 years, Susie, died at the zoo at age 53. Since then Mona was the zoo's sole elephant. The Elephant Sanctuary
Elephant Sanctuary, Hohenwald
The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, founded in 1995, is a non-profit organization licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency . As a member accredited by The Association of Sanctuaries , the sanctuary follows guidelines stipulated by TAOS,...
offered to relocate and house Mona at their 2700 acres (11 km²) facility near Hohenwald, Tennessee
Hohenwald, Tennessee
Hohenwald is a city in and the county seat of Lewis County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 3,754 at the 2000 census. The name "Hohenwald" is a German word that means "High Forest". The town was founded in 1878 and later merged with a town named "New Switzerland" to the south. New...
without charge. The "Alabama Wildlife Advocates" actively lobbied for this move, which was rejected by Zoo officials. The group created an online petition and demonstrated outside the zoo during her annual birthday celebration.
Zoo director Bill Foster argued that the stress caused by travel and resettlement would not be healthy for Mona, and that she should not, at her age, have been subjected to the behavior and pecking order of an unfamiliar herd. He indicated that the zoo planned to improve her habitat and was considering adding a companion to her exhibit.
On June 18, 2007 zoo staff found Mona unable to stand on her own and assisted her with slings. It was surmised that one of her legs had become numb from her lying on it. She was placed on 24-hour watch and appeared to be in good health and spirits in subsequent evaluations. Nevertheless, two days later she indicated that she was unwilling to get to her feet, even with assistance. Zoo veterinarian Marie Rush consulted with other staffers and the decision was made to euthanize. She was pronounced dead at 10:30 AM on June 21, 2007, with a necropsy set to begin the same afternoon.
External links
- Mona article at BhamWiki.com
- Birmingham Zoo website
- Mona Campaign at alabamawildlifeadvocates.org
- Free Mona to the Elephant Sanctuary, a weblog