SYRACUSE - The elephant born Sunday at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park died Thursday following a swimming pool accident, according to zoo officials.
The 345-pound baby elephant named Kedar died shortly after 6 p.m., about 12 hours after he slipped past his protective adult family members and dove head-first into the pool, zoo spokeswoman Sarah Fedele said.
Four female elephants in the yard tried to pull him out, then went in after him but forced him into a deeper section of the swimming pool.
Elephant collection manager John Moakler jumped into the pool and lifted Kedar's trunk out of the water, zoo director Ann Baker said.
He pushed the baby to shallow water so he could get out of the pool.
The elephant had water in his lungs, a fever and breathing difficulty throughout the day.
His body was sent to Cornell University for tests.
About 500 Asian elephants live at zoos and wildlife parks in North America.
Four female elephants in the yard tried to pull him out, then went in after him but forced him into a deeper section of the swimming pool.
Elephant collection manager John Moakler jumped into the pool and lifted Kedar's trunk out of the water, zoo director Ann Baker said.
He pushed the baby to shallow water so he could get out of the pool.
The elephant had water in his lungs, a fever and breathing difficulty throughout the day.
His body was sent to Cornell University for tests.
About 500 Asian elephants live at zoos and wildlife parks in North America.
