Ali is a 34-year-old African elephant at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens | Jacksonville Zoo and GardensAli is a 34-year-old African elephant at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens | Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Ali is a 34-year-old African elephant at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens | Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

Jacksonville Zoo elephant recovering after dental surgery

Published on March 29, 2024 at 11:55 am

A giant African Elephant once owned by musician Michael Jackson is recovering at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens after dental surgery to remove the last part of his right tusk.

Zoo officials say a team of almost 30 experts from around the world performed the specialized surgery on Ali, a 34-year-old elephant donated in 1997 by the King of Pop.

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The elephant had previously undergone tusk procedures in 2019 and 2023. But due to his complex anatomy, large tusk size and anesthetic time constraints, a multiphased treatment approach was required, zoo officials said in a post on Facebook.

A team of specialists performs dental surgery on Ali, an African elephant. | Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

The remaining portion of the tusk posed a risk of infection and other issues, so the zoo went ahead and removed it entirely. The 3½-hour procedure was successful, and Ali is recovering well, the zoo said.


author image Reporter, WJCT News 89.9 Dan Scanlan is a veteran journalist with almost 40 years of experience in radio, television, and print reporting. He has worked at various stations in the Northeast and Jacksonville. Prior to joining the WJCT News team, Dan spent 34 years at The Florida Times-Union as a police and current affairs reporter.
author image Reporter, WJCT News 89.9 Dan Scanlan is a veteran journalist with almost 40 years of experience in radio, television, and print reporting. He has worked at various stations in the Northeast and Jacksonville. Prior to joining the WJCT News team, Dan spent 34 years at The Florida Times-Union as a police and current affairs reporter.

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