They may never know what killed her and they still can't believe she's gone.
CityNews.ca was the first to tell you Wednesday about the sudden death of Tequila, a
38-year-old African elephant who had been a long time resident of the Toronto Zoo. Officials admit they have no real idea what may have caused the giant pachyderm to suddenly collapse and die 24 hours earlier. The animal was found lying in her pen at the facility when experts came to feed all six of them Tuesday morning.
"We carried out a postmortem and they could find no signs of anything untoward," spokesman Eric Cole explains. "It just looks like she collapsed."
The tragedy has affected everyone at the facility. "The keepers are very upset," he admits. "It's still kind of sinking in. It's so -- it's just the whole thing's so kind of sudden and unexpected that we're a little bit stunned here. You know, it's like losing a friend here."
But the reaction of the other elephants proves that the lumbering creatures really never do forget. Especially hard hit - Thika (top left), the late animal's offspring. "Thika was standing over her. Thika is her daughter ... She was pacing around the paddock looking for her mom and so on and in the house. She didn't like to be alone. Throughout her life, she's always had Tequila close."
Even visitors felt the absence of such a large presence. "I have a special place in my heart for them," relates Sarah McGreal. "So to hear that an animal, especially an elephant, has passed away under unknown circumstances, it's quite shocking."
Further tests on the cause of Tequila's death are pending but the result could take weeks.