Unfortunately, Soraida and the vets at FAE cannot save every elephant that visits their hospital. Tahnee was a 70+-year old elephant Asian Elephant and a permanent resident at FAE. (Elephants can live for 60-80 years). On December 5, 2009, Tahnee’s health began to deteriorate. Soraida reported:
Tahnee has saliva dripping from her mouth, does not eat grass just bananas. Has not drank water this morning. She eats and chews very slowly. Sign of old age, Dr. Preecha says.
Dr. Preecha starts an IV drip on Tahnne (December 5, 2009).
By December 6 the situation was worse:
Tahnee’s hind legs are shaking and she does not want to lie down. We are afraid she might hurt herself if she collapsed, so dried grass has been scattered around since last night. Staff is putting up support railing at the Nursery, which has soft sand.
We will continue the [IV] drip, since she has not eaten nor drank. It’s 12noon. Her chance of survival is slim.
With tears, Soraida
Soraida with Tahnee on December 6, 2009.
On December 7, 2009, Tahnee collapsed. Soraida wrote:
Tahnee collapsed at 1:49 am and left in peace at 2:09am. No words could express how we all are feeling. She was a daughter, a sister, a friend and wherever she might be now, she remains in our hearts.
She will wake no more, Oh never more… Soraida
Tahnee's grave, December 8, 2009.
