New Bedford's Beloved Ruth the Elephant Has Died

For nearly four decades Ruth, an Asian elephant, has called New Bedford's Buttonwood Park Zoo home.

Rescued and brought to the zoo back in 1986, Ruth has touched the hearts of thousands of zoo visitors over the years.

Now zoo staff are ending this year with very heavy hearts after announcing the sad news that Ruth the elephant has died.

Back in October, the zoo made the difficult decision to enter Ruth into hospice care.

The 66-year-old beloved elephant had been dealing with a consistent, age-related decline in her mobility and zoo staff just wanted ensure she would remain comfortable during whatever time she had left.

On average, female Asian elephants live to about 47, so Ruth had certainly exceeded that average.

Courtesy Lauralee Vigeant

However, she also suffered from skeletal conformational abnormalities that resulted in uneven distribution of pressure on parts of her feet and joints while walking and standing. Over time, those abnormalities made mobility extremely difficult and uncomfortable for Ruth.

As December's weather turned colder, Ruth's pain became more significant. Ultimately her arthritis became debilitating and her team began discussing the inevitable next steps.

On Friday, December 27, surrounded by her animal and veterinary care team, Ruth passed away.

She had quite the journey with Buttonwood Park Zoo.

In her early life, Ruth was part of a herd at Benson's Wild Animal Farm, then was sold to a private owner in the 1970s becoming an "elephant for hire." In the late '80s she was confiscated by the Boston Animal Rescue League and came to live in New Bedford in 1986.

Her years in service left her with a partial paralysis of the center portion of her truck and the skeletal abnormalities that led to all her late in life discomfort.

She will be deeply missed by zoo staff and guests, who will all have a chance to celebrate her life and legacy this spring when the zoo honors her remarkable life.

For now, however, the zoo will remain closed until January 2, 2025 to give her trainers and caretakers – as well as Emily, Ruth's 60-year-old, longtime Asian elephant companion at the zoo – a chance to grieve this incredible loss.

Courtesy Buttonwood Park Zoo

As the zoo put it, "Rest in peace, Ruthie. You were loved beyond words and will never be forgotten."

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