Elephant who loved to smash watermelons dies following chronic pain, Oklahoma zoo says

A 57-year-old Asian elephant was euthanized following chronic pain, an Oklahoma zoo said.

Rex, “one of the oldest male Asian elephants” in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, was being treated for age-related issues, the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden said in its Jan. 14 Facebook post.

Rex’s health started to further decline, and his stiffness and discomfort started to increase, officials said.

Eventually, he was euthanized at the zoo’s elephant barn at Sanctuary Asia, officials said.

“Rex’s life and continuing legacy will not be forgotten. He was the cornerstone of the Oklahoma City Zoo’s elephant breeding program and the proud father of our three young females,” Rachel Boyd, the Oklahoma City Zoo’s elephant curator, said in the post.

“Rex’s influence not only shaped the future of the Zoo’s herd but also our continued commitment to conservation and animal care. In North America, his enduring legacy lives on through his seven living calves and five living grand-calves, including three here at the Zoo. Rex was truly a remarkable presence, and I feel honored to have cared for him in the final years of his life.”

Rex was loved by guests and was easily identifiable by his “impressive tusks” and “freckle-dotted forehead,” zookeepers said.

He enjoyed the “bachelor lifestyle” and was often independent from his herd with zoo personnel giving him access to a separate habitat, officials said.

Asian elephants often live into their mid-50s, according to Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute.

They are “extremely sociable” and can grow to be around 21 feet long and weigh upwards of 11,000 pounds, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

They are endangered with only around 50,000 left in the wild, the WWF said.

When not eating smashed watermelons and pumpkins, Rex would go for a swim in the habitat’s pool, officials said.

“We are so thankful to have cared for Rex in his time and we will certainly miss him, but his legacy will live on,” zookeepers said.

This story was originally published January 14, 2025 at 2:52 PM with the headline "Elephant who loved to smash watermelons dies following chronic pain, Oklahoma zoo says."