A very sad day at the world famous Topeka Zoo. Cora, the zoo’s 67-year-old Asian elephant has died. Cora had been very ill the past several weeks and was not getting any better. Her caregivers made a difficult but compassionate decision, out of love and respect for her well-being, to euthanize her. Cora was one of the oldest Asian elephants in human care in the United States, living far beyond the average life expectancy for her species.
Did you know that before coming to Topeka, Cora was a movie star? She starred as Charlotte in the 1980 hit film Smokey and the Bandit 2. After her film career and entertainment days ended, she joined the Topeka zoo in 2016 where she became an ambassador for her species and a cherished part of the community.
Zoo officials are keeping a close eye on her partner at the zoo, 55-year-old Tembo, who has been at the zoo since the 1970’s when she arrived as a 6-year-old juvenile. Rest easy Cora.
