Houston Zoo elephant, 2, dies of sudden illness

An inquisitive Asian elephant known for being the largest of its kind born in captivity in the U.S. died at the Houston Zoo last week after suddenly contracting an incurable disease.

The zoo held a memorial service Saturday for the popular 2-year-old elephant named Mac, who was remembered in anecdotes tinged both by sadness and laughter.

Behind a fence and to the side, Mac’s mother, Shanti, and his aunt, Methai, looked on.

“We all loved Mac and he will live in all our hearts forever,” zoo volunteer Toni Noble said, her eyes tearing up.

Mac died Nov. 9, less than 12 hours after first showing symptoms of elephant herpes virus, which causes blood vessels to weaken. There is no cure for herpes virus in animals, and there is not yet a direct test to detect it in a healthy animal.