Limba the elephant euthanized at Bowmanville Zoo

A 50-year-old elephant at the Bowmanville Zoo in Ontario was euthanized today after falling ill.

Limbawas a femaleAsian elephant that appeared in the towns Santa Claus parade and appeared in several movies.

Limba was walking through the zoo Monday and by the evening, had become very ill, according to the zoo.

The decision to euthanize her was difficult but necessary after a considerable amount of blood was found in the elephants stool.

Tests confirmed there was no hope for the elephant, the zoo saidon its Facebook page.

We have always been very clear that Limba would not suffer. Our decision was made to honour that commitment, the zoo said in a statement.

Limbaarrived at the zoo in 1989.

The pachyderm drew some criticism from animal rights activists who said she could not be happy being the sole elephant at the zoo, but italways maintained she was content and a special case.

Limba grewup with people and never encountered another elephant until she was 26, their profile page about Limba reads.

When the Bowmanville Zoo had six elephants, they lived and played together. Limba shied away from the other elephants.

In a much-talked-about move, the Toronto Zoo recently relocatedits three remaining elephants to the PAWS animal sanctuary near Sacramento, Calif., after Toronto city council voted to do so in 2011.