A loose dog at the St. Louis Zoo startled a herd of elephants, distressing one female member so much that she collapsed and died.

Zoo officials announced the death of 27-year-old “Rani” on Tuesday. 

A small, unleashed dog got into the zoo Friday afternoon and was running around in a private area near the elephant enclosure.

One of the elephants, which the zoo did not name, was outside and became agitated by the dog.

Zookeepers moved the agitated animal inside, causing the herd to make noise. These vocalizations agitated Rani, who circled and vocalized in a brief burst before collapsing.

The zoo’s elephant caretakers were unable to resuscitate Rani.

A posthumous necropsy revealed preexisting changes in her heart, which the zoo is now investigating to see if they were connected to her sudden death.

“It’s been a privilege to get to know Rani from just a youngster when she moved here to then watch her become a mother and grow with the elephant family. She will be greatly missed,” Becky Heisler, a zookeeper for the St. Louis Zoo’s elephant exhibit, said in a statement.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.