Elmwood Park Zoo announces recent deaths of 4 animals

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (WTXF/AP) - It has not been a good year for the Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown. The zoo announced four of its animals have died of unrelated, natural causes in recent months.

The zoo said on its Facebook page, "With compassion and sadness, Elmwood Park Zoo's animal care staff made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize Matilda" elk after she developed a neurological disorder and had trouble walking. Officials say the 15-year-old's necropsy revealed Alzheimer's type II astrocytes in the animal's brain.

In May, a Saki monkey named Lace began to deteriorate after an upper respiratory infection. Officials euthanized Lace in June after the monkey stopped responding to treatment. The zoo wrote, "Just shy of her 25th birthday, Lace was one of the zoo's oldest animal residents."

A Leicester Longwool sheep named Diva, referred to as "the barn's biggest personality," died this month after suffering a seizure.

Nox, a 15-year-old gray wolf, was found to have a bleeding mass in her liver and spleen and was also euthanized. According to the zoo, "She lived a full life and will be greatly missed."

Elmwood Park Zoo's website says the zoo "was established in 1924 when a local farmer transferred 16 acres and a small menagerie to the Borough of Norristown. Today, the Zoo is owned and operated by the Norristown Zoological Society."