St. Louis Zoo Releases Elephant Autopsy Findings

ST. LOUIS – The Saint Louis Zoo is still mourning the loss of Avi, their young male Asian elephant, but now they’re getting some insight into why he was having such a hard time thriving.

The zoo said a preliminary necropsy, animal autopsy, found the elephant was born with two birth abnormalities that could not be reversed. Avi’s major vessels connected to his heart were compromised and he had a spinal issue.