Wild rumors have begun to circulate after the mystery disappearance of a famous elephant.
The hefty mammal named Happy has been at the Bronx Zoo in New York since 1977 and is commonly seen by visitors riding the monorail through the Wild Asia exhibit. However, the aging elephant, who is in her fifties, allegedly hasn’t been in the outdoor enclosure since July.
Happy’s absence has sparked concerns around the community and raised many questions about the “world’s loneliest elephant”, especially from animal rights activists. A spokesman for the Zoo, Mary Dixon, said the elephant had been outside at the exhibit but it was during the mornings. Director of the site, Jim Breheny, also waded into the argument by sharing a picture of the animal with a caption: “Out in the exhibit …. taking a dust bath [and] eating” to his X account on September 12.
Happy has been at the zoo since 1977 (
Corbis via Getty Images)
Some, however, weren’t convinced. One user wrote: “There’s no way to know for sure this was yesterday. It would have made sense for the NYT journalist to have have seen her [and] taken a photo of Happy.’
A Zoo spokesman added: “Happy has recently opted not to be in the exhibit during the day, but she has gone into the exhibit area in the morning before the zoo opens.”
Nonhuman Rights Project’s Courtney Fern said the elephant could, despite their name, be unhappy, MailOnline reports. She said: “She could be choosing not to go outside because she is depressed and has lost the will to live, and going outside no longer brings her joy. Or she could be in pain.”
Elephants at the zoo have been separated into pairs ever since one was injured in a herd attack in 1977. But Happy has been on her own since her last companion died in 2006. Patty, the only other elephant now at Bronx Zoo, continues to spend her day in the open enclosure.
Caitlin O’Connell, an elephant scientist and instructor at Harvard, said: “Elephants require social interaction to thrive, and as migratory animals, they enjoy large spaces over which to forage and graze.”
A Zoo spokesman added: “Happy has recently opted not to be in the exhibit during the day, but she has gone into the exhibit area in the morning before the zoo opens. As we stated previously, Happy is choosing to spend the day near the barn interacting with staff rather than in the exhibit space.”
Nonhuman Rights Project’s Courtney Fern thinks the animal wasn’t “behaving normally” and it is “most likely not coming out because something is wrong with her mentally or physically,” before adding: “She is given access to the exhibit area each day but not choosing to spend her time there. Despite some reports, she is not confined indoors but has access to indoor and outdoor spaces and she chooses where she wants to be.”
The zoo was later forced to publish a statement which addressed growing concerns about the elephant and said nothing was wrong with it and the animal was in good health.