San Diego Zoo says goodbye to elephant

On his 50th birthday last January, Ranchipur the Asian elephant sauntered before adoring fans at the San Diego Zoo to inspect his towering gift.

He probed with his ivory tusks and curious trunk the 15-foot structure, a giant number “50” sculpted from tree branches and draped in ficus leaves. Hidden within were colorful hibiscus and little bits of banana. It stretched above Ranchipur’s 11-foot frame and took a team of 10 keepers six hours to assemble. Each number weighed 300 pounds.

Six minutes later, the 11-ton pachyderm had demolished it all.

He romped around the yard and searched for more treats, tossing blocks and blowing popcorn while kids blew him kisses.

Ranchipur had already outlived the average lifespan for Asian elephants in captivity. Year 50 was, zookeepers said, the elephant’s “milestone birthday.”

It would be his last.

On Tuesday, after years of treatment for geriatric ailments, zookeepers decided it was time to say goodbye.

Staff grew concerned when the elephant looked weak in the early morning, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. After he did not respond to medical assistance, Ranchipur was euthanized.

“As a well-known member of the herd, Ranchipur will be missed by staff, volunteers and guests,” the zoo said in a statement to the newspaper.

A necropsy is being conducted, zoo officials said. It’s likely Ranchipur’s latest health obstacles were from old age.