...She Will Be Missed.

The Philadelphia Zoo's Petal - at 52, the oldest African elephant in a U.S. zoo - died yesterday morning.

The animal staff was unable to determine the cause of death, but tests are being conducted and results are expected over the next few weeks.

The elephant care staff found Petal lying on her right side in her stall when they arrived shortly before 7 a.m.
They were instantly alarmed because she typically sleeps standing up.

Petal lived with two other African elephants, Kallie, 25, and Bette, 24. "Our elephant care staff will continue to monitor Kallie and Bette as they both had close bonds with Petal," Baker said.

Zoo CEO Vikram H. Dewan said in a statement that Petal "will be warmly remembered by staff and generations of zoo visitors as one of our most beloved animals. This is a great loss to the Philadelphia Zoo family and the greater Philadelphia community. . . . She will be missed."