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Indy Zoo mourns loss of 6-year-old African Elephant, Nyah

Nyah.jpg
Posted at 2:35 PM, Mar 19, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-19 14:35:19-04

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Zoo is mourning the loss of one of their young elephants.

The zoo announced on social media that their 6-year-old African Elephant, Nyah, died Tuesday morning following a short illness.

"Nyah was born and raised at the Indianapolis Zoo and the staff who have cared for her are feeling her loss deeply," the zoo posted on their Facebook page Tuesday afternoon. "Nyah was a beautiful, fun and curious elephant, often seen following her big sister Zahara around."

Zoo officials say Nyah started showing signs of illness on Sunday and received immediate veterinary care. Her symptoms progressed rapidly and she died late Tuesday morning.

A necropsy will be conducted to determine Nyah's cause of death.

"We know that elephants grieve and each elephant in the herd was with Nyah after she died today to help them understand why she will not be with them anymore," the zoo's facebook post said.