PORTLAND, Ore. — Animal rights activists held a vigil and protest outside the Oregon Zoo early Saturday evening, following the sudden death of 5-year-old Lily.
She died Thursday night of a “sudden onset” of endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV). Elephant calves are often susceptible to the virus, which is often fatal, the zoo said.
'She was loved by everyone': Oregon Zoo elephant Lily dies suddenly of virus
“I can’t imagine a more devastating loss for this zoo family and our community,” said zoo director Dr. Don Moore. “Lily was the darling of the zoo. She was loved by everyone from her elephant family to the people who cared for her every day to her thousands of fans. Our staff did everything they could and fought to save her until the very end. Everyone is in mourning here. It is just heartbreaking.”
Lily was the zoo’s youngest elephant. Friday would have been her sixth birthday.
Photos: Baby elephant Lily through the years
The activists met outside the zoo at 5 p.m. for a candlelight vigil and protest.
"We are heartbroken to hear of Lily the baby elephant's passing at the Oregon Zoo," said Lacey Kohlmoos, organizing strategist at Care2. "No animal deserves to die in captivity. Make no mistake: the Oregon Zoo has already killed three of its other elephants over just the past three years, and this tragic incident should be the last straw. That's why we are exposing the Oregon Zoo for what it really is: an elephant torture chamber."
In 2017, beloved elephant Packy was euthanized after a long battle with a drug-resistant form of tuberculosis, according to zoo officials. Packy was 54 years old and the oldest male Asian elephant in North America at the time of his death. Rama, Packy's son, and Tusko were euthanized in 2015 after zoo staff said pain and mobility issues associated with decades-long leg injuries were too much for the elephants to bear.
The Oregon Zoo released the following statement:
"Our hearts go out to this group along with everyone else who is feeling Lily’s loss today. Our entire community is grief-stricken. We ask that anyone wishing to honor Lily’s memory please join us in supporting the National Elephant Herpesvirus Laboratory to help find a cure for this disease, which is killing young elephants both in our zoos and in the wild."