Michael Jackson's Former Neverland Ranch Elephant Recovering After Surgery at Jacksonville Zoo
Ali, a 34-year-old male bull elephant, underwent a tusk removal procedure — the equivalent of a cavity filling in humans Ali, a 34-year-old male bull elephant who used to live at Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch, underwent a tusk removal procedure at Florida's Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in late March. The operation, which was the equivalent of a human cavity filling, took 30 large mammal experts from across the US, South Africa, and India to assist. Ali had been having trouble with his infected tusk since 2019 and the Jacksonville Zoo made the decision several years ago to remove the remainder of his tusk so he could be more comfortable. The zoo donated Ali's tusk to the Smithsonian for research and preservation.
Published : a month ago by Charlotte Phillipp in Entertainment Science
Ali, a 34-year-old male bull elephant, underwent a tusk removal procedure — the equivalent of a cavity filling in humans
For Ali, a 34-year-old elephant who used to reside at Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch, a trip to the dentist looks a bit different.
According to local Jacksonville station First Coast News, the late pop star's elephant is recovering from a three-and-a-half-hour tusk removal surgery that occurred in late March at Ali's current home, Florida's Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.
Thirty large mammal experts—including equine veterinary dentists, anesthesiologists, and veterinarians—were called in from across the U.S., South Africa, and India to assist in the male bull elephant's operation, which was the equivalent of a human cavity filling.
"It took an entire crew of dedicated individuals to coordinate this intricate medical procedure for our largest animal at the zoo," Corey Neatrour, the assistant curator of mammals at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, said in a March 28 Facebook post from the Florida zoo. "It takes a village, and we could not have had such a successful surgery without the support of so many people. Ali's story is a reminder of the tremendous efforts we make for animals in our care."
Related: Louisville Zoo Plans to Retire Its 2 Remaining Elephants to a Sanctuary for 'Aging' Animals
Ali has been having trouble with his infected tusk since 2019 — he underwent previous procedures for the tusk that same year and in 2023 — and the Jacksonville Zoo made the decision several years ago to remove the remainder of his tusk so he could be more comfortable, per the zoo's Facebook post.
"Due to the complex anatomy, large tusk size, and the anesthetic time constraints on such a large patient," a 30-person team was required to help sedate Ali and successfully perform the dental surgery. According to zoo spokeswoman Emily Long, most of his left tusk broke off 15 to 20 years ago, probably as he was playing. The remaining tusk became infected in the last few years, per the Florida Times Union.
Related: Elephant Isolated in Captivity for 35 Years Makes Friends Instantly at New Sanctuary Home
First Coast reported that the zoo donated Ali's tusk to the Smithsonian for research and preservation.
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Born in the wild, Ali was donated to the Jacksonville Zoo and moved from his Neverland Ranch home in 1997. He's now one of three African elephants residing at the zoo, alongside females Thandi and Sheena. According to the Times Union, he will rejoin his two companions after completely healing from his surgery.
Related: Michael Jackson's Former Neverland Ranch Elephant Escapes New Home at Florida Zoo
This is not the first time Ali has made headlines, either — in 2018, he briefly escaped from his zoo enclosure when a gate was accidentally left open.
According to CBS News, the bull elephant wandered through the open gate and found his way to a courtyard outside the elephant and giraffe exhibits. Zookeepers quickly lured him back to his enclosure with some treats, and he was only loose in the zoo for about 20 minutes total, the outlet said.
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Topics: Wildlife, Elephants