Heartwarming Rescue: Elephant Gets Help After Fall at Milwaukee Zoo

Emergency crews were called to Milwaukee County Zoo this week, but not for a visitor or staff member who needed help. They were called to help an old elephant get back on its feet.

Favorite Zoos in Wisconsin

My kids are HUGE animal lovers, so going to a zoo is something my family does at least once a year.

Living in Northern Illinois, we are pretty lucky to have some amazing zoos like Brookfield Zoo, Lincoln Park Zoo, or even Summerfield Zoo in Belvidere just a short drive from home, and trust me, my family has been to all of them. Multiple times.

In just a few weeks my family is planning to head to Wisconsin, and a stop at Milwaukee County Zoo is already on the to-do list. Let's hope our upcoming visit will be far less eventful than what other zoo visitors witnessed on Tuesday, September 2.

Elephant Emergency at Milwaukee County Zoo

On Tuesday morning Ruth, one of Milwaukee County Zoo's African savanna elephants, tripped and fell over a log after she was nudged by another elephant. Obviously, falling down is never good, but when you're a 43-year-old "geriatric" elephant with arthritis, falling down can cause serious health issues. Thankfully she had some quick-thinking and compassionate zoo keepers and emergency personnel who jumped into action.

After discovering Ruth was unable to get up on her own, zoo staff "called the Milwaukee Fire Department Heavy Urban Rescue Team and Dawes Rigging and Crane, who remained on standby" according to WISN, but it turns out all that was needed was a front loader and some hay bales to save the day:

After getting a gentle nudge  back on her feet, Ruth walked right into her enclosure and was immediately checked over by zoo medical staff who thankfully, gave her a good bill of health.