It was a sad farewell for the elephant who was believed to be one of the world's oldest African elephants. Officials at the Milwaukee County Zoo euthanized Lucy the elephant Friday morning.

Zoo staffers found Lucy lying down in her stall. The 46-year-old elephant became ill in June and had been unable to stand up before in the African exhibit yard. A crane had been brought in to help her up in the past.

Brittany, Lucy's companion and the other elephant at the zoo, was allowed in Lucy's stall to grieve over her body. Lucy had spent 44 years at the zoo.

Zoo officials say they hope to get another elephant soon to keep Brittany, who's in her 20s, company.