Zoo Miami has announced the sudden and tragic death of Emmy Lou, a giant eland described as a “very special animal” and an important contributor to the conservation of her species.
According to a statement posted by the zoo on Sept. 27, Animal Science personnel responded around noon on Thursday after receiving reports that a giant eland was in distress inside its habitat. Staff found the animal already deceased and transported her to the zoo’s Animal Hospital, where a necropsy was conducted.
The examination revealed that Emmy Lou had ingested a mass of hay that became lodged in her esophagus and was then aspirated into her lungs, leading to her death. Zoo officials called the incident a “freak accident” and noted that it was unpreventable without removing hay from her normal diet…