Granby, November 19, 2012 – Toutoune, the Granby Zoo’s African elephant, passed away in the early hours of Monday, November 19, 2012. A team of professionnals from the St-Hyacinthe faculty of veterinary medicine is on site today to perform a necropsy in order to determine her cause of death.

For a while now, her health had been a cause for concern. All hypotheses of potential illnesses had been previously identified. The Granby Zoo’s veterinarian, Dr. Marie- Josée Limoges, had been examining the animal on a daily basis in order to identify the cause for her failing health, but all tests had come up negative. Only the necropsy will be able to identify the animal’s illness. Dr. Limoges was in contact with specialists from Canada and the United States to ensure the best possible care and medical interventions for the elephant.

In order to provide for an environment suited to her condition and allow her a maximum of rest, the elephant had been placed in isolation inside her pavilion. A comfortable, quiet space had been set up and the animal had been under constant watch for the past several days. Her death is a shock to all Zoo employees and particularly for those who worked with her on a daily basis.

Toutoune the elephant has seen millions of visitors go by during her lifetime and was often in the spotlight. Through the years, she became a true ambassador and star of the Zoo and her birthday was celebrated each year. She arrived at the Granby Zoo on September 30, 1985. She had a calm and friendly temperament and enjoyed her contacts with the zookeepers. She kept company with Sarah the elephant for 24 years. The visitors wishing to share a memory related to Toutoune or simply offer their condolences can do so via the Zoo’s social networks (www.facebook.com/ZoodeGranby or Twitter #aurevoir_toutoune).

Toutoune the elephant passed away within an internationally renowned zoological and scientific institution whose missions are the conservation of threatened species, education and entertainment. The Zoo is accredited by the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA), the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).

For information: Hélène Bienvenue
Communications Consultant
(450) 372-9113 extension 2195
cell : (450) 775-8617
hbienvenue@zoodegranby.com