Oregon elephant calf doing well, polar bear put down

PORTLAND — An elephant and her new calf are doing well at the Oregon Zoo, but keepers had to euthanize an ailing polar bear.

Rose-Tu and her calf were released Tuesday from the chains and harness that had held them apart since the calf was born on Saturday. The pair wandered freely together for most of the day and the male baby was nursing.

The baby elephant had a rough arrival for the first-time mother, who kicked the calf during delivery and took some time to calm down.

While the zoo staff welcomed the new arrival, they mourned the death of one of the zoo's three polar bears.

After giving her a last meal of favorite treats, veterinarians euthanized Yugyan, pronounced "U-Young," a 22-year-old bear suffering from terminal kidney failure.