November 16, 2024 • 9 mins
When you hear talk about hospice, you're usually talking about humans, not pachyderms. However, on the South Coast, Ruth the elephant, who's been living for decades at the Buttonwood Park Zoo, is entering hospice as she nears the end of her life. Ruth has been a highlight at the zoo for generations, with residents from all over the South Coast and beyond coming to spend time with her. Zoo Director Gary Lunsford talks with Nichole about her health conditions and the decision to transition her care.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
From WBZ News Radio in Boston. This is New England Weekend.
Each week we come together right here and talk about
all the topics important to you and the place where
you live. Is so good to be back with you
again this week. I'm Nicole Davis. Normally, when we talk
about hospice, we're talking about our loved ones other humans,
but it's not often you hear about animals going on hospice.
(00:28):
That's exactly what's happening at the Buttonwood Park Zoo in
New Bedford. Ruth is an Asian elephant and she's making
her way up in years. She's actually one of the
oldest elephants in the country that's still in professional care.
She did not have an easy upbringing, arriving at the
zoo in her twenties. After her childhood at a defunct
animal farm in New Hampshire. She was actually found by
the Feds abandoned in a truck in Danvers and she
(00:49):
got some significant health problems developing from that. Ruth is
starting to slow down, but Buttonwood Park Zoo says they've
got her covered. Let's find out more about what's going
on here. From Gary Lunsford, the director of the zoo,
good to have you on the show with us. Gary,
And before we get more into what's happening with Ruth,
tell us a bit about the zoo and talk with
us about your mission.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Well, we're seven acres in the heart of Buttonwood Park
in the middle of New Bedford, where we have about
one hundred and fifty species of animals or sorry, about
two hundred species of animals of fifteen hundred specimens, and
our mission is preserving the future of wildlife by creating
(01:28):
engaging and educational experiences that connect the community to the
natural world. We have a wide range of animals here
at the Buttonwood Park, Suit, I think that's one of
the things that makes us so special. We have everything
from the giant Madagascar hissing cockroaches to of course our
more robust Asian elephants. We have quite a population of
(01:52):
felids like the cougars, bobcats and links black bears, a
very large population of seven species of New World primates,
and our rainforest building, quite a variety of native species
like the bison, white tails and fevers. And of course
(02:13):
can't forget our special red pandas from Asia other one
of the fan favorites.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Yes, yes, I love them. They're adorable, They're so cute.
But we're here today, of course to chat about Ruth.
And Ruth is an Asian elephant, as you just mentioned.
And what I really think is incredible about Ruth is
the fact that she has grown and been a fixture
in the community. She's been at the zeus since nineteen
eighty six, that's almost forty years. Tell me a bit
(02:42):
about Ruth and her history.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Well, yes, Ruth is a true icon here in New Bedford.
As you mentioned, she's been here for thirty eight years,
and her lung life is a true testament to the
quality care that she's received over the last thirty eight
years at the Buttonwood Park Zoo, as well as the
continued love and dedication she receives from the animal caretakers. Yeah,
(03:05):
she's been here. She's spent most of her life here
along with Emily the elephant. They've been buds and they
really do define the identity of the Buttonwood Park zou
for the better part of the last century. It seems
like everybody in New Bedford has a story about Ruth
and Emily here at Buttonwood Park zo.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Well, they're beautiful animals and unfortunately you know Ruth. I
was doing some research and when Ruth arrived thirty eight
years ago, she already had a bit of a medical condition,
So tell me what was going on with her.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
She did. There were a couple of conditions that she's
had long term since prior to her arrival here at
the Buttonwood Park Zoo. The two most notable is she
has a she has an abnormal confirmation, which I'm not
(03:57):
the person asked the technical it's explanation of it. I
keep it pretty simple. When where I was growing up,
we call it pigeon toed.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Oh, okay, sure, that.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Means is a normal confirmation. When someone's standing up their
heels they're closer to together than their big toes. Well,
she's the opposite. Her big toes are closer together, so
her feet, her front feet point slightly inward, which which
affects her her gait, her walking, and how she places
(04:34):
weight on her front feet. So that was one condition.
She also another one that's pretty easy to spot on
her as she has a partial paralysis of her trunk,
So you'll notice her out in the yard she swings
her trunk more as opposed to using the muscles and
her trunk.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
To ambulate, and I also see that over time she
develop essentially a form of dermatitis on her feet, and
tell me what happened there, and the fact that her
treatment has actually been almost world renowned, she's really helping
to forward treatment on this specific condition.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Well. Definitely, yes, that the photodermatitis isn't overgrowth of tissue
around the feet, which you know, the tissue around an
elephant's feet grows constantly, but hers grows faster than normal,
which creates problems where we constantly have to manage your
(05:36):
foot care. So she basically gets regular packeter and petticures.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
Must be nice.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
But yes, in the work with Ruth over the years,
we've come up with different techniques for helping to manage that,
including again I'm not the one to speak on the
d details, but basically we use a carbon dioxide treatment
(06:05):
to help manage footcare as well as we use some
different forms of a laser therapy, although that's more for
her joints center feet, but it gets used on her
feet as well. So yeah, these techniques have that we've
used for her to help mitigate her footcare now being
(06:28):
used at other facilities and even even other countries for
foot care for elephants.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Tell me what it's like watching her condition or what
it's been like over the past few years watching her condition.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Yes, it it's she's an amazing elephant. She's had a
wonderful life here a button Wood Park Zoo, and it
is rough on the team to watch that decline. Now,
it's it's it's not been dramatic, it's sometimes more subtle
than other times, but still, when you have a loved
(07:01):
one in that sort of declining condition, it can be tough.
It's emotional. You know, it's rough on the team, and
we do greatly appreciate all of the positive remarks we've
received and the outpouring of support from the community of
New Bedford and beyond.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
So what is it like for an elephant to go
into hospice care? I mean, we know what human hospice
cares all about, and we know kind of the meaning
behind graduating to that part of your life. What does
it mean when an elephant gets to that point.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
It is a very similar process as you would expect
with the human patient, other than they can't really tell
you what's going on verbally, but basically, from my definition,
it's we're managing her condition as best we can with
(07:51):
you know, anti inflammatories and pain medications and monitoring her
closely and on a daily basis, just to make sure
that she is having her best life with the understanding
that those days are numbered and could make a turn
at any time.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
Well unfortunately, I mean that's the way of the world
when you work with animals. I suppose, circle of life.
But you know, it's also been a privilege, I'm sure
watching her age and learning from her as she's been
around all this time.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Well absolutely, As I mentioned Ruth as a true icon
to this community. She's so special within the zoo team
and within the Zoo community and beyond that. It's been
a real honor to be a part of that team.
And again we appreciate the community support that we received.
(08:45):
One thing to keep in mind. We've gotten a lot
of questions about people wanting to visit Ruth in this time,
and we greatly appreciate that, but want the community to
understand and keep in mind that she does at this
point have choice as to whether or not she wants
to be outdoors or indoors. There are certain advantages to both.
(09:09):
She can be more comfortable and rest indoors on comfortable
surface where sometimes she's more eager to go outside and
enjoy the sun and play, so we can't make any
guarantees at this time. Some day she's excited to come outside.
Some day she wants to spend the day inside. So
(09:29):
we welcome both to come out to visit, to get
a glimpse and show her support directly, but we can't
guarantee that she wants to be out in public space.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Have a safe and healthy weekend, and please join us
again next week for another edition of the show. I'm
Nicole Davis from WBZ News Radio on iHeartRadio.
From WBZ News Radio in Boston. This is New England Weekend.
Each week we come together right here and talk about
all the topics important to you and the place where
you live. Is so good to be back with you
again this week. I'm Nicole Davis. Normally, when we talk
about hospice, we're talking about our loved ones other humans,
but it's not often you hear about animals going on hospice.
(00:28):
That's exactly what's happening at the Buttonwood Park Zoo in
New Bedford. Ruth is an Asian elephant and she's making
her way up in years. She's actually one of the
oldest elephants in the country that's still in professional care.
She did not have an easy upbringing, arriving at the
zoo in her twenties. After her childhood at a defunct
animal farm in New Hampshire. She was actually found by
the Feds abandoned in a truck in Danvers and she
(00:49):
got some significant health problems developing from that. Ruth is
starting to slow down, but Buttonwood Park Zoo says they've
got her covered. Let's find out more about what's going
on here. From Gary Lunsford, the director of the zoo,
good to have you on the show with us. Gary,
And before we get more into what's happening with Ruth,
tell us a bit about the zoo and talk with
us about your mission.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Well, we're seven acres in the heart of Buttonwood Park
in the middle of New Bedford, where we have about
one hundred and fifty species of animals or sorry, about
two hundred species of animals of fifteen hundred specimens, and
our mission is preserving the future of wildlife by creating
(01:28):
engaging and educational experiences that connect the community to the
natural world. We have a wide range of animals here
at the Buttonwood Park, Suit, I think that's one of
the things that makes us so special. We have everything
from the giant Madagascar hissing cockroaches to of course our
more robust Asian elephants. We have quite a population of
(01:52):
felids like the cougars, bobcats and links black bears, a
very large population of seven species of New World primates,
and our rainforest building, quite a variety of native species
like the bison, white tails and fevers. And of course
(02:13):
can't forget our special red pandas from Asia other one
of the fan favorites.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Yes, yes, I love them. They're adorable, They're so cute.
But we're here today, of course to chat about Ruth.
And Ruth is an Asian elephant, as you just mentioned.
And what I really think is incredible about Ruth is
the fact that she has grown and been a fixture
in the community. She's been at the zeus since nineteen
eighty six, that's almost forty years. Tell me a bit
(02:42):
about Ruth and her history.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Well, yes, Ruth is a true icon here in New Bedford.
As you mentioned, she's been here for thirty eight years,
and her lung life is a true testament to the
quality care that she's received over the last thirty eight
years at the Buttonwood Park Zoo, as well as the
continued love and dedication she receives from the animal caretakers. Yeah,
(03:05):
she's been here. She's spent most of her life here
along with Emily the elephant. They've been buds and they
really do define the identity of the Buttonwood Park zou
for the better part of the last century. It seems
like everybody in New Bedford has a story about Ruth
and Emily here at Buttonwood Park zo.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Well, they're beautiful animals and unfortunately you know Ruth. I
was doing some research and when Ruth arrived thirty eight
years ago, she already had a bit of a medical condition,
So tell me what was going on with her.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
She did. There were a couple of conditions that she's
had long term since prior to her arrival here at
the Buttonwood Park Zoo. The two most notable is she
has a she has an abnormal confirmation, which I'm not
(03:57):
the person asked the technical it's explanation of it. I
keep it pretty simple. When where I was growing up,
we call it pigeon toed.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Oh, okay, sure, that.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Means is a normal confirmation. When someone's standing up their
heels they're closer to together than their big toes. Well,
she's the opposite. Her big toes are closer together, so
her feet, her front feet point slightly inward, which which
affects her her gait, her walking, and how she places
(04:34):
weight on her front feet. So that was one condition.
She also another one that's pretty easy to spot on
her as she has a partial paralysis of her trunk,
So you'll notice her out in the yard she swings
her trunk more as opposed to using the muscles and
her trunk.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
To ambulate, and I also see that over time she
develop essentially a form of dermatitis on her feet, and
tell me what happened there, and the fact that her
treatment has actually been almost world renowned, she's really helping
to forward treatment on this specific condition.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Well. Definitely, yes, that the photodermatitis isn't overgrowth of tissue
around the feet, which you know, the tissue around an
elephant's feet grows constantly, but hers grows faster than normal,
which creates problems where we constantly have to manage your
(05:36):
foot care. So she basically gets regular packeter and petticures.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
Must be nice.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
But yes, in the work with Ruth over the years,
we've come up with different techniques for helping to manage that,
including again I'm not the one to speak on the
d details, but basically we use a carbon dioxide treatment
(06:05):
to help manage footcare as well as we use some
different forms of a laser therapy, although that's more for
her joints center feet, but it gets used on her
feet as well. So yeah, these techniques have that we've
used for her to help mitigate her footcare now being
(06:28):
used at other facilities and even even other countries for
foot care for elephants.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Tell me what it's like watching her condition or what
it's been like over the past few years watching her condition.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Yes, it it's she's an amazing elephant. She's had a
wonderful life here a button Wood Park Zoo, and it
is rough on the team to watch that decline. Now,
it's it's it's not been dramatic, it's sometimes more subtle
than other times, but still, when you have a loved
(07:01):
one in that sort of declining condition, it can be tough.
It's emotional. You know, it's rough on the team, and
we do greatly appreciate all of the positive remarks we've
received and the outpouring of support from the community of
New Bedford and beyond.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
So what is it like for an elephant to go
into hospice care? I mean, we know what human hospice
cares all about, and we know kind of the meaning
behind graduating to that part of your life. What does
it mean when an elephant gets to that point.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
It is a very similar process as you would expect
with the human patient, other than they can't really tell
you what's going on verbally, but basically, from my definition,
it's we're managing her condition as best we can with
(07:51):
you know, anti inflammatories and pain medications and monitoring her
closely and on a daily basis, just to make sure
that she is having her best life with the understanding
that those days are numbered and could make a turn
at any time.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
Well unfortunately, I mean that's the way of the world
when you work with animals. I suppose, circle of life.
But you know, it's also been a privilege, I'm sure
watching her age and learning from her as she's been
around all this time.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Well absolutely, As I mentioned Ruth as a true icon
to this community. She's so special within the zoo team
and within the Zoo community and beyond that. It's been
a real honor to be a part of that team.
And again we appreciate the community support that we received.
(08:45):
One thing to keep in mind. We've gotten a lot
of questions about people wanting to visit Ruth in this time,
and we greatly appreciate that, but want the community to
understand and keep in mind that she does at this
point have choice as to whether or not she wants
to be outdoors or indoors. There are certain advantages to both.
(09:09):
She can be more comfortable and rest indoors on comfortable
surface where sometimes she's more eager to go outside and
enjoy the sun and play, so we can't make any
guarantees at this time. Some day she's excited to come outside.
Some day she wants to spend the day inside. So
(09:29):
we welcome both to come out to visit, to get
a glimpse and show her support directly, but we can't
guarantee that she wants to be out in public space.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Have a safe and healthy weekend, and please join us
again next week for another edition of the show. I'm
Nicole Davis from WBZ News Radio on iHeartRadio.
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