49-year-old elephant dies at South Carolina zoo

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - One of two elephants at a South Carolina zoo has died unexpectedly.

Riverbanks Zoo said the 49-year-old female African elephant named Robin was found dead early Thursday at the Columbia zoo.

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden Animal Care and Welfare Director John Davis said in a statement the elephant had lived well beyond its life expectancy, but still had a lot of spunk.

The zoo closed its elephant exhibit Thursday after the animal’s death. There were two elephants in the exhibit.