ST. LOUIS- St. Louis' beloved Asian elephant, Kenzi died early Saturday due to a viral infection known as elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus.
"This is a devastating loss for Kenzi's family, the elephant care team and the St. Louis community," said Martha Fischer, curator of ungulates and elephants.
Kenzi is the daughter of Raja and Rani.
The 6-year-old elephant calf was diagnosed with the virus on February 20. She was immediately given anti-viral medication and received intensive care, according to the zoo.
"I can't say enough about the dedication of our team," said Fischer. "Our keepers and veterinarians left no stone unturned in search of new ideas and treatments that could save Kenzi's life."
No other elephants have tested positive for the virus.
Asian elephants are endangered according to the World Wildlife Fund, with only 35,000 elephants remaining in the wild.
The life expectancy of a female Asian elephant is 47 years, according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
