"Thank You for Being with Me in Childhood" 50-Year-Old Daegu Elephant 'Bokdongi' Passes Away

Death Due to Old Age Around 6 PM on the 4th
Showing Signs of Physical Decline Since Last June

The Daegu City Urban Management Headquarters announced on the 6th that the male Asian elephant 'Bokdong-i', which was being raised at Daegu Dalseong Park, passed away around 6 p.m. on the 4th.

Bokdong-i was first brought to Dalseong Park at the age of 2 in 1975 as a donation from a company and has since been loved by the citizens of Daegu. He had been healthy enough to weigh up to 5 tons. The city explained that the average lifespan of captive elephants is about 40 years. At 50 years old, Bokdong-i lived a long life.

Since June, Bokdong-i began showing symptoms of pododermatitis and physical decline due to old age.

The park management office installed foot care facilities in cooperation with the elephant specialist team from Seoul Grand Park to treat Bokdong-i. They also received help from experts including a professor specializing in wildlife at Kyungpook National University Animal Hospital, Jeonju Zoo, and Jeonbuk National University Animal Medical Center.

In addition to the existing heating and cooling facilities in Bokdong-i's enclosure, the park management office installed a blower and ventilator and supplied special feed such as bananas and watermelons. Despite these efforts, Bokdong-i collapsed during treatment on the 4th. The keepers tried to lift him using a crane, but Bokdong-i ultimately passed away.

The elephant 'Bokdong-i,' a long-time resident of Dalseong Park in Daegu, has been loved by the citizens.
[Photo by Daegu City]

According to Yonhap News, Lee Sang-gyu, head of the Daegu City Urban Management Headquarters, said, "The autopsy revealed that excessive fat deposits inside the heart blocked blood circulation, leading to death due to old age," and added, "We will also make efforts regarding the handling of the remains and other post-mortem measures."

Netizens who heard the news responded with comments such as, "Uncle Bokdong-i, you endured the hot and humid Daegu well," "You were the elephant I saw at Dalseong Park from childhood to adulthood," and "Thank you for being with my childhood."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.