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Elephant dies at San Diego Zoo Safari Park

The San Diego Zoo says the dominant female elephant at the zoo's Safari Park has died apparently after a fight with another elephant.

ESCONDIDO, Calif. (AP) - The San Diego Zoo says the dominant female elephant at the zoo's Safari Park has died apparently after a fight with another elephant.

Zoo spokeswoman Yadira Galindo tells the San Diego Union-Tribune that trainers found Umoya injured when they arrived early Thursday and she died a short time later.

Galindo says a few of her injuries indicated "there may have been some sort aggressive interaction with another elephant."

She says whatever happened most likely occurred early in the morning before any keepers were around and no one saw what happened.

Umoya means "spirit" in Swahili. She was born in Kruger National Park in South Africa around 1990 and weighed 6,600 pounds.

A necropsy was being performed to determine an exact cause of death.

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Information from: The San Diego Union-Tribune

 

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.

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