The Pittsburgh Zoo says it made a humane decision to end the young life of an elephant calf after her health took a turn for the worse and she wasn't gaining enough weight from feedings through a tube.

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WEBVTT rt CHOICE.REPORTER: SHE WAS BORN ONE MONTHEARLY, ON MAY 31st, AND ZOOOFFICIALS SAY THAT HER MOTHERREJECTED HER,rt AND DIDN'T HAVEANY MILK.THAT'S WHEN SHE WAS BROUGHT HERETO THE ZOO, AND IN THE SHORTTIME THAT SHE WAS HERE PEOPLEFELL IN LOVE WITH HER,rt EVENPEOPLE WHO NEVER GOT TO SEE HEROR MEET HER.>> I HAVE GOOSE BUMPS, I'M SOUPSET.rtTHAT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONSWHY WE CAME HERE.REPORTER: BRAND DABRANDY HILLBROUGHT HER 2-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTERTO THE PITTSBURGH ZOO NOTKNOWING THErt BABY ELEPHANT DIEDHOURS EARLIER.>> WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE THEMOS.>> THE BABY.>> THE BABY.REPORTER: LITTLE BITrt DIED AROUND10:00 WEDNESDAY MORNING?THIS LITTLE GIRL CAPTURED A LOTOF HEARTS.SHE WAS FEISTY, SHE WAS ACHARACTER, YOU KNOW,rt SHE WASSWEET AND LOVING, AND IT'S VERY,VERY HARD EUFRPTS BARBARr.REPORTER: BARBARA BAKER SAID THEBABY ELEPHANT STOPPED EATING.THEY TRIED A FEEDING TUBE BUTSHE WrtOULDN'T GAIN WEIGHT.>> WE ALWAYS THOUGHT SHE WEREDEALING WITH SOME KIND OF BIRTH,DEFECT WHERE SHE COULD NOTABSORB NUTRIENTS AND WASrt NOTABLE TO GAIN WEIGHT NORMALLY.REPORTER: THE CALF WAS166 POUNDS WHEN ZOO STAFFEDDECIDED TO EUTHANIZE HER.AT THIS POINT SHE SHOULD HAVEBEEN WELLrt OVER 200-POUND.BAKER BELIEVES THEY DIDEVERYTHING THEY COULD.>> I BELIEVE WE ARE VERY BLESSEDTO HAVE A CHANCE TO KNOWrt HER.REPORTER: AND THE ZOO ISCURRENTLY PERFORMING A NECROPSY,THE EQUIVALENT TO AN ANIMAL'SAUTOPSY, ANDrt THAT SHOULD TAKEBETWEEN 8 TO 12 WEEKS FOR THOSERESULTS TO COME BACK.

Advertisement 'Our hearts are broken:' Pittsburgh Zoo's baby elephant, 'Little Bit,' has died The Pittsburgh Zoo says it made a humane decision to end the young life of an elephant calf after her health took a turn for the worse and she wasn't gaining enough weight from feedings through a tube. Share Shares Copy Link Copy

An elephant that was born about 30 days premature and had a feeding tube inserted to help it gain weight has been euthanized, the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium said Wednesday.Born in July, the calf was briefly put on exhibit to the public before her health took a turn for the worse earlier this month.Though she never had an official name, the baby elephant was known as "Little Bit" at the zoo, said Dr. Barbara Baker, president and CEO of the zoo. "Our hearts are broken. It's just devastating," said Baker. "She touched so many people in such a short time. We did everything we possibly could to care for her, but unfortunately in the end, it just wasn’t enough."The calf's mother, Seeni, rejected the baby, forcing keepers to feed it a combination of formula and elephant milk pumped from another female.When teething caused the baby to stop taking her bottle feedings, the decision was made to insert a tube so keepers and veterinary staff could provide her with the nutrients and vitamins she needed.The calf initially responded well, but did not gain weight consistently, Baker said."The humane decision to euthanize the calf was made, and she passed away peacefully surrounded by her family of dedicated keepers," a press release from the zoo read.The calf weighed only 184 pounds at birth, which is below the average weight of an African elephant. She was being cared for by zoo staff 24 hours a day."We expect there will be criticism and accusations from those with limited information and no animal care experience. Sadly, these individuals seek to benefit their own agendas by misrepresenting the realities of a tragic situation and demanding action based on misinformation," the zoo's press release said."Baker added that the zoo thanks all who expressed support, prayers and well wishes for the calf over the past several months.Get your news on the go: Download the WTAE mobile app