Berlin Zoo mourns sudden death of young elephant

Spokeswoman Claudia Bienek said six—year—old Indian elephant Shaina Pali died early Tuesday morning. Elephants can live up to about 80 years in captivity.

In this combo of March 23, 2007 file pictures Knut the polar bear cub plays with a blanket during his first public appearance in the Berlin zoo. Germany's celebrity polar bear Knut died from drowning after collapsing due to swelling of his brain and falling into his enclosure's pool, an expert. AP.

The Berlin Zoo says another young animal has died unexpectedly, only two weeks after celebrity polar bear Knut passed away.

Spokeswoman Claudia Bienek said six—year—old Indian elephant Shaina Pali died early Tuesday morning. Elephants can live up to about 80 years in captivity.

She says the zoo’s veterinarian thinks the elephant died of an infection but that a necropsy is being performed to determine the exact cause of death.

Four—year old polar bear Knut died on March 19 at the zoo after collapsing in his enclosure’s moat. Experts said his collapse was caused by a swelling of his brain brought on by an infection.

Ms. Bienek says the two deaths are unrelated.

She says- “It’s simply very, very sad.”