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At age 45, African savanna elephant Brittany is one of the Milwaukee County Zoo’s most beloved residents and a guest favorite. She arrived at MCZ in 2001 and is one of the longest-residing animals in our care.
Since January of this year, Brittany’s health has been declining. The veterinary team has been working to investigate the cause and treat the symptoms of her illness, which include skin lesions, weight loss, and lethargy.
Brittany receives regimented daily treatments aimed at keeping her hydrated and her symptoms at ease. She is on antibiotics and pain medications. Brittany is bathed daily and receives topical treatments to help the skin lesions. The veterinary team is monitoring her bloodwork closely.
Brittany still has a significant appetite; however she continues to lose weight rapidly, while the skin lesions continue to multiply and are not improving with treatment.
Recently, the animal care teams and veterinary staff have had multiple difficult, quality-of-life discussions as they consider the best way to provide comfort and treatment. It has become clear that Brittany’s condition is declining, and those difficult conversations have been done with thoughtful care and compassion. They are not conversations anyone takes lightly. The teams have discussed behaviors and symptoms that Brittany is exhibiting and look to see if she continues a downhill trajectory. She has some “good days,” but they are becoming less frequent.
Brittany is also considered a geriatric elephant. The median life expectancy for a female African savanna elephant in human care is 39.4 years old, according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
The Zoo is incredibly proud of the diligence and dedication that the animal care and veterinary teams have been providing Brittany. They have been supporting her and working seamlessly together to keep Brittany as comfortable as possible. Elephant care requires much coordination across many departments — and it requires compassion for their fellow caretakers as well.